Team Herald
VASCO: Cortalim gram sabha on Sunday resolved to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 with regards to non-segregation of garbage at the source and for littering waste.
Sarpanch Senia Pereira said, “We have taken a resolution to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on those found littering garbage and not segregating the waste. We request the people to segregate garbage at source. Even the garbage contractor will be given instructions to collect segregated waste, and if he has some issues then he should contact us, then we will take necessary action.”
The sarpanch said, “Cortalim locals are educated and I request them to cooperate with the panchayat by segregating the waste and hand over the same so that panchayat can dispose it properly.”
The meeting, which lasted for four-and-a-half hours, also discussed issues including mobile tower, market policy, biodiversity and non-repaired roads.
After the power point presentation by an advocate on the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) and Village Biodiversity of Cortalim, local MLA Alina Saldanha said the PBR is very important for details regarding the areas rich in flora and fauna. There is the need to identify, inspect and study these species and protected them.
She called for an extensive discussion and awareness on the biodiversity issue among villagers for better understanding.
Later, Jude Pereira, a local said the panchayat has been using COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse for not holding gram sabhas.
“When we asked Block Development Officer to hold the gram sabha last month, we were able to have it now. We wanted to seek clarity on the budget which was prepared. The contractors have been carrying out works haphazardly. The biodiversity is being destroyed and yet the panchayat has not been performing its duties,” Pereira alleged.
Edmond Carvalho, another member said, “People wanted to know what action the panchayat has taken on the previous meeting’s decision. Cortalim locals are suffering due to the haphazard work carried out by the contractors. Several roads have been dug for laying underground cables. People also wanted to have complete briefing on the biodiversity, PBR, for that they wanted to have another meeting.”
A gram sabha member raised another issue alleging a hill cutting activity wherein a road has been dug blocking access to the crematorium from last six months. He demanded that the panchayat find out as to how many factories come under Cortalim village jurisdiction and how many are paying taxes to the local body.
Locals expressed fear that the mobile tower could lead to health problems.
Some gram sabha members were dismayed at the panchayat for not taking people into confidence on the market policy.
On the market policy issue, the sarpanch said, “As per the market policy, panchayat has a definite committee which is being defined by the market policy authorised by the government. According to the committee, the panchayat has to go ahead with the market policy comprising the rules and regulations. The auction process will go according to the rules and regulations of the policy. At the same time the panchayat had published the points of the market policy in the daily newspapers and had announced the same in the church.”
On the bad road conditions due to the underground cabling work, the Sarpanch said, “The panchayat will write to the Electricity Department in this regards and will ensure that the roads are restored.
On mobile towers, Pereira said “Earlier the panchayat has written to the building owners and to the PWD. PWD being the nodal office, the panchayat can’t do much. People can write to the PWD and panchayat will support. Although the panchayat is not against the mobile tower considering the current needs but at the same time we need to think if there are any health hazards.”
Meanwhile, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said the people have asked for the separate gram sabha to discuss the market policy. The panchayat may soon convene a meeting in the regard.
On the mobile tower issue, she said, “The mobile tower is needed as the children are studying online. At the same time people have some apprehensions about the towers with regard to health issues which I will try to get an expert for the next gram sabha meeting and clear people’s doubts.”
Saldanha assured to talk to the Power Minister with regards to the underground cabling work issue and promised that the electricity department engineers will visit the site and find the solution the problem.
