MARGAO: The Colva gram sabha that turned more into a forum for geriatrics to dominate the proceedings resolved to form a committee to prepare a report on the area earmarked for the playground; the meeting also decided on having a new panchayat ghar.
The meeting also witnessed a panchayat member sitting with the villagers protesting against the sarpancha’s “secretive” manner of functioning.
Alexander Fernandes, who hails from Colva but presently resides in Seraulim, hogged 40 minutes to just discuss the panchayat ghar issue. He demanded that the work be started immediately.
Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes said the plan for a two storeyed panchayat ghar is prepared and under process, but lamented that the work is held up as some panchayat members have objected to it.
Some villagers asked whether the panchayat ghar would be constructed on the land allotted by Tourism Department near the beach where presently commercial activities are undertaken in a building there.
The villagers alleged that some of the eight shops leased out have been sub-let while one person who has been given a shop there is not even an Indian national. They empowered the sarpanch to negotiate with all the shop owners to vacate the premises so that a panchayat ghar could be constructed there.
Former sarpanch Camilo Fernandes took 20 minutes to explain how the comunidades functioned in earlier times only to ask the panchayat to appoint a committee of professional and knowledgeable persons in the village to prepare a report on the site proposed for a play ground.
Pointing out that the matter is sub-judice, the sarpanch disclosed that following National Green Tribunal’s directions to the Goa Biodiversity Board to submit a report on the site, M/s Ecology Ecocare Consultants have been appointed by the Board to prepare the report.
In response to this Camilo demanded that the panchayat also appoint its own committee to prepare a report which was accepted by the gram sabha.
The letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Sarpanch asking to take steps for water conservation and specially rain water harvesting was read out with the villagers asking whether the government would provide any fund to take up the works of rain water harvesting.
Finally, it was decided to write to the Prime Minister acknowledging the receipt of the letter and also ask him whether the panchayat would be provided some funds. It was also decided to recommend the works under this programme to the water resources department.
The gram sabha was attended by 41 villagers including seven of the nine panchayat members.
