QUEPEM: Concerned over the increasing number of thefts in Avedem Cottombi in recent times, the locals were on Sunday left shell-shocked after it was revealed at the gram sabha that school students aged between 12 and 13 were allegedly involved such crimes including stealing electric fixtures on street lights in the village.
At the gram sabha held on Sunday, Sarpanch Bhupendra Desai admitted to the veracity of these incidents and said that it was a serious matter which needed to be attended to collectively.
“We shall have a special meeting with the teachers and management of the schools along with the children, their parents and representatives of a NGO to find a way of dealing with this problem,” he said.
“The children found guilty of indulging in such crimes need to be given special attention and proper counselling, I assure you (villagers) that the panchayat will do everything to help these misguided children,” the sarpanch said.
The Adinco factory expansion despite a stay order by the court was also raised at the gram sabha.
The villagers demanded that a contempt petition be filed against the factory before the High Court at Goa which granted the stay on the work.
Former sarpanch Alleluia Alfonso pointed out that the issue has been plaguing the village for the past several years and even dominated the various gram sabhas held in the past.
Expressing disgust over the total disregard shown by the factory management to the authorities and the villagers, he demanded that the panchayat file a petition against the factory.
Admitting to the illegalities committed by the factory, the sarpanch said that the panchayat has already decided to file a petition against the factory.
Gram sabha member Vishal Gawas Desai complained that the villagers are suffering on account of the dust pollution caused by the ongoing work of laying underground power cables.
Besides, he pointed out that people are also suffering as they have been compelled to go without water for days as the water supply pipelines have been damaged due to the digging work.
