VASCO: The Chicalim gram sabha unanimously opposed the proposal for the installation of six mobile towers in the panchayat jurisdiction.
Similarly, the Cansaulim Arrossim Cuelim (CAC) gram sabha as well as that of Chicolna-Bogmalo too have decided to oppose setting up of new mobile towers until the authorities concerned clear all their doubts on the ill effects of mobile towers.
Interestingly, Sancoale gram sabha agreed to give permission for setting up new mobile towers under the panchayat jurisdiction.
The decisions were taken in the extra ordinary gram sabha meetings called to spread awareness among the public and to clear the apprehensions of villagers vis-à-vis radiation from mobile phone towers on their health.
The special gram sabhas were held following directives from the ministry of external affairs, to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to enhance network connectivity in view of the BRICS summit, and as the mobile networks in South Goa villages were improper, the directorate of panchayats, through its block development offices had issued memorandum to 18 panchayats along the coastal belt to convene extraordinary gram sabhas to discuss the issue of erecting mobile towers and providing service at 61 sites during the summit.
At Chicalim, the officials of the Department of Telecommunication along with the Goa State Pollution Control Board tried to spread public awareness using slide presentation to convince the gram sabha that there would not be any health effects from electromagnetic field radiations through the mobile towers. They explained that the household electronic gadgets releases more radiation than the mobile towers and the World Health Organization (WHO) has also certified that mobile towers are not harmful for the villagers.
Interestingly, when the gram sabha members asked the officials to give an undertaking that the mobile towers would have no ill-effects on human beings, the officials present refused.
Similarly, other quarries of the villagers remained unanswered after which the Chicalim gram sabha decided to oppose setting up any new mobile towers in their village.
At CAC, after an acrimonious discussion, the gram sabha resolved to oppose the erection of mobile towers for BRICS summit at Arossim. Though a section of villagers from Cansaulim were in favour of granting permission for new mobile towers. The gram sabha demanded that the officials should give complete report on radiation level from existing towers and should first declare the sites where such new towers would be erected.
The villagers also questioned as to why the mobile towers were not erected earlier and why only now in name of BRICS summit.
Another argument of the villagers of Arossim was all anti-people projects are being dumped in Arossim like pontoon help joy rides, starred hotel projects and now mobile towers. People said that this was not acceptable and demanded that the government refrain from forcing these projects against the will of the people.
Similar apprehensions against mobile towers were raised at the Chicolna-Bogmalo gram sabha. The members demanded that the officials should first show them the plan of sites where the mobile towers have been proposed. They also demanded that, complete details of proof certifying that the mobile towers are not harmful should be made available before the panchayat.
To this Sarpanch Laxman Kavlekar assured the villagers that he would not allow any company to set up mobile towers if the villagers have objections. Finally, it was decided to call for another meeting to provide complete details on mobile towers and only after that the panchayat would take a call on new mobile towers.
Interestingly, the Sancoale gram sabha did not find anything wrong in granting permission for new mobile towers provided the authorities concerned give transparent report on radiation from mobile towers.
