CHINCHINIM: The Chinchinim-Deussua Village Panchayat on Sunday became the first village panchayat in Goa to convene a Special Gram Sabha unanimously opposing the recently hastily passed Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021.
The special gram sabha was convened by Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Inacina Rebello at the Mount Mary Church Hall, Chinchinim on Sunday, and attended by most of the panchayat members and approximately 100 villagers following the prevailing COVID-19 SOPs (standard operating procedures).
The gram sabha was held after the Chinchinim-Deussua sarpanch Rebello received a representation from the villagers requesting to hold the same to discuss and oppose the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021.
Three resolutions were unanimously passed by the gram sabha members who requested the Chinchinim-Deussua Village Panchayat to ask the government to totally withdraw or scrap the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021 as there are enough laws to protect the rights of niz Goenkars (original Goans), to appoint a dedicated full time officer to decide and dispose of all the pending mundkarial cases in a time bound manner.
Besides the gram sabha resolved to keep a strict vigil so as to ensure that no illegal construction activities are carried out on government or communidade land.
The resolutions were proposed by Ajit Kamat and seconded by Cyril Leitao.
“There will be large scale encroachment or illegality now that the government has made its intention for transferring the land of encroachers”, said a Dandeavaddo-Chinchinim resident and social activist Savio Lopes.
Interestingly, the local Velim MLA and Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues wasn’t present for this special gram sabha that was attended by seven panchayat members of the 11-member with four panchayat members remaining absent.
