Carmona Panchayat at its meeting on Saturday, unanimously agreed to reject the application for NOC and regularisation of a mobile tower camouflaged in a water tank at Carmona.
As the panchayat members held their meeting, hundreds of villagers anxiously waited outside the panchayat ghar to learn the outcome of the meeting.
The villagers have steadfastly opposed the Reliance Jio mobile tower atop a building near the panchayat office and based on this sentiment, the panchayat unanimously decided to reject their application for an NOC and regularization of their mobile tower. Reliance Jio had applied for an NOC from the panchayat in their reply to the panchayat’s show-cause notice if the same is required as per laws in place. All the members took strong objection to the tower and discussed ways to enforce their decision so that Reliance Jio follows prevailing laws and due procedures as per gazette notification on “Guidelines for Installation of Mobile Towers in Goa.”
Carmona Panchayat also decided to issue a second show-cause to Reliance Jio after their reply for the earlier show-cause was observed to be unsatisfactory. The sarpanch informed the villagers that Reliance has violated Section 66 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, and all necessary action would be initiated against them as per law.
Villagers demanded that Reliance Jio should follow the same laws as prescribed for other service providers and the people’s feelings should be duly respected by them.
Tension prevailed after news spread that the tower has already been commissioned by Reliance Jio without “Consent to operate” by GSPCB and mandatory NOC from Carmona panchayat. Villagers at the meeting reiterated their opposition to the tower and asserted that they would spell out their next course of action shortly through the media.
