ASSAGAO: In the backdrop of various issues threatening the village like muddy roads, mega projects and night clubs, Assagao locals cutting across political affiliations met and discussed the situation and chalked out a possible future course of action to tackle the social evils as it was affecting both the social and secular fabric of the village.
Since the model code of conduct is in force, many of these aggrieved villagers met under a common platform at a temple in Munangwada here and discussed these vexatious issues threatening the village.
Temple representatives from Assagao, ex panchas Einstein Barretto, Pratap Virnekar and others also participated and spoke about how these issues can be solved.
Many of the villagers present also voiced their protest and alleged that the panchayat was found wanting on many issues and lots more needed to be done to protect the fabric of the village.
Barretto, ex panch member said that he filed many RTIs and asked for valuable information from the panchayat and accused the civic body of not doing its duty enough and it was high time that a watchdog be put in place to keep a check on administrative activities of the civic body.
All assembled villagers felt that politicians have also let them down and they only come at the time of elections to beg for votes and it was time each village now rises and makes its voice heard.
After a thorough discussion which lasted almost two hours, the villagers and temple committee representatives were of the view that a core committee be appointed from among the members present for this meeting and this panel would take head on the authorities concerned.
Ex-panch members Pradeep Naik and Jallinder Gaonkar were also present and expressed their views.
Villagers cutting across even religious lines were unanimous in voicing their protest at the way in which the village was slowly going down with the mushrooming of night life culture, discos, pubs and mega projects. They all said that the secular fabric of the village and peace has to be preserved at any cost come what may.
