PONDA: The Kavlem Gramsabha, chaired by Sarpanch Manuja Naik, was convened on Sunday to discuss various development works and community issues.
During the meeting, locals raised concerns about around ten to twelve age-old trees leaning precariously over the road between Donkhamb and Kapileshwari, posing a risk to commuters and school students. Secretary Mayur Gaonkar noted that a letter has already been sent to the PWD to address the issue. Sarpanch Manuja Naik highlighted that tree cutting would cost approximately Rs two lakh, which the panchayat cannot currently afford, but that the matter would be discussed further.
Another concern discussed was the newly tarred road in Donkhamb-Kavlem, which has been washed away and has gravel scattered on it, creating hazards for commuters. Locals urged that measures be taken to make the road motorable.
The meeting also discussed the construction of a new culvert at Paunwada, along with a retaining wall. Additionally, the Gramsabha addressed the need for daily garbage collection and passed a resolution to increase the compensation amount for homeowners from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 in the event of a tree collapse on their property. Secretary Mayur Naik also encouraged residents to plant various species of trees in their locality.
Other issues raised included the repair of the bus stop shed at Donkhamb-Kavlem and the need for anti-vector fogging in Dhavali, where a dengue case was recently detected. Vinci Clement from Dhavalim requested fogging to address the health concern. Locals also pointed out that some electric poles and transformers from underground cabling projects are positioned at roadside gutters, creating additional concerns.
The meeting began with a tribute to the late former Panchayat member, Pandurang Madhav Naik, who recently passed away.
