Team Herald
MARGAO: The gram sabhas of Sernabatim, Vanelim, Colva and Gandaulim discussed various developmental works with the new MLA Churchill Alemao who was specially invited for the meeting.
Churchill promised to look into various works and asked two people with individual problems to meet him in his office and get them redressed.
The damage caused to the Sernabatim beach due to soil erosion was taken up and Churchill promised that the issue would be addressed very soon as he had already discussed it with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
However, he urged people to be patient and wait till the end of monsoons so that the roads in the village and in the constituency can be attended to as JICA had assured that the sewerage work will be completed by May-end and the asphalting of roads will be taken up after the monsoons.
Since the money has already been paid to the PWD for carrying out road repairs, the villagers asked the panchayat to write to the PWD to withhold the payment of the contractor engaged in any work along the roadside in the village till the roads are repaired.
Reacting to the demand that panchayat use its funds to construct the new panchayat ghar, Churchill said he would get the panchayat ghar constructed provided the panchayat identifies the location.
The locals demanded the construction of health centre in Colva and discussed various options for the same as the land identified for the centre was required by the electricity department to set up a sub-station.
It was suggested that the electricity department vacate the premises currently used once the sub-centre is set up and as such the place be used for a health centre or even the present panchayat ghar could be used for the same.
The alleged harassment by traffic police which was affecting tourism in the village was also discussed and the cops were accused of deliberately harassing tourists.
Churchill promised to have a meeting with the chief minister and the stakeholders involved in the tourism trade in the village.
He assured the people that the village streetlights will be fitted with LED bulbs by May-end.
He promised to get CCTVs installed at various locations including those areas where garbage is dumped and at the creek to keep the village clean.
He said the creek would be cleaned by the Water Resources Department after monsoons and a proper embankment will be constructed followed by the dredging. However, he appealed to the people to ensure the creek is kept clean and added that CCTV cameras would be installed to discourage people from dumping garbage.
Taking cognizance of the misuse of the fisheries complex at Colva, Churchill said the gate will be repaired and the road also will be asphalted. More significantly a high mast tower will be installed in the complex along with CCTV cameras to prevent its misuse in future.
He also suggested that the panchayat cancel the permissions granted to roadside vegetable and other vendors if they fail to manage their waste. The villagers demanded that the panchayat purchase a baling machine for plastic waste and the panchayat assured to commence dry waste collection shortly.
Churchill lamented that the ground constructed by him during his earlier tenure has turned into a venue for entertainment programmes. He however said the ground will be revived and sports will get a fillip in Colva.
