Team Herald
MARGAO: The Colva Gram Sabha started off with the announcement of the programme for Gram Panchayat Development Plan which is scheduled on November 2, 3 and 4. The Sarpanch urged the villagers to participate in the programme.
The panchayat body then briefed the villagers about the status of the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) issue. The Sarpanch informed that they had approached a lawyer who prepared a report on the illegalities of the STP. The secretary read out the conclusion of the report which listed several grounds based on which the STP could be challenged in court.
Gram sabha member Thomas Rodrigues informed that they are working on filing a PIL against the STP. The gram sabha gave its unanimous support for filing the PIL. The villagers said that they were not against the STP but they want a smaller plant according to the initial proposal.
According to the panchayat, the when the STP was proposed, it was meant to cater only to the village of Colva and therefore require a plant of upto 5 MLD capacity. However, without informing the panchayat, the Sewerage Corporation had begun constructing a plant of 25 MLD which will cater to the whole of Benaulim constituency. The Panchayat’s and the villager’s concern is that the discharge from the plant would pollute the village and the Colva beach. The gram sabha members said that the STP would lead to closure of all the hotels in the area. One gram sabha member even alleged that the STP is part of a conspiracy to destroy tourism in the area.
The gram sabha members also raised the issue of growing number of stray dogs in the village and on Colva beach. The villagers say that the dogs attack people and cause nuisance on the beach. The Panchayat secretary informed the villagers that there is a government scheme to set up a dog shelter and sterilise the dogs, but they need space. The sarpanch said that he could provide space to set up the dog shelter. One villager asked the panchayat why aren’t they euthanising the sick dogs.
The issue of lack of land was also raised while discussing garbage management. The sarpanch requested the members to identify a place to set up a garbage management unit. One gram sabha member requested the secretary to bring in the next meeting the list of all the open spaces in Colva especially those that were gifted to the panchayat.
