MARGAO: Velim villagers on Sunday unanimously rejected the Fisheries department’s proposal to set up a minor fishing harbour at the Cutbona fishing jetty.
Sunday gram sabha of the Velim panchayat was marked by pandemonium with gram sabha members almost coming to blows over the issue of migrants at the Cutbona jetty. The issue of migrants, the minor fishing Harbour and a full time panchayat secretary dominated the meeting with the large number of gram sabha members present accusing the sarpanch of not working for the betterment of the village. The meeting was attended by local MLA Benjamin D’Silva.
Although the meeting began at 10.30 am, minutes of the previous gram sabha could only be confirmed at Noon, after a long drawn debate. Gram Sabha member Ramona Almeida pointed to sarpanch Melvyn Sanches that the demand for a full-time secretary had been made at the June 29 gram sabha and accused the sarpanch of failure to initiate measurers to put grievances of gram sabha members before the concern authorities.
Former president of Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Sebastiao Cardozo, raised the issue of Cutbona fishing jetty being proposed to be developed into a minor fishing harbour and pointed that the director of fisheries had earlier stated that the department would not get the required funds for development of Cutbona fishing jetty, unless the same was proposed as a minor fishing harbour. The sarpanch clarified that the NOC issued by the panchayat body to the Director of Fisheries in this regard would be withdrawn.
A resolution opposing the minor fishing harbour was moved by Vinay Tari and unanimously supported by all villagers. The sarpanch was also cornered over the inspection held at Cutbona jetty along with authorities with regards to migrants. Villagers demanded and resolved that sarpanch hold re-inspection along with the committee members appointed by the gram sabha. Gram sabha also grilled the sarpanch for not holding the gram sabha in July, with sarpanch promising to hold the next one on October 26. Account for year 2013-14 was presented and approved. Villagers also adopted a resolution congratulating Lodovina Pereira, teacher who received a government award for her service.
