PONDA: Burning issues such as garbage treatment, scrapyards and the closure of Kavlem-Khadpaband road by the Ponda municipality dominated the Kavlem gram sabha, which was held after gap of almost a year.
Social distancing norms were followed at the gram sabha, which received tremendous response from villagers, who demanded action against gas agency operating near Sub District Hospital at Tisk-Ponda for illegally charging Rs 10 as delivery charge per domestic cylinder.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
On the garbage treatment issue, Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar said, “This issue has been haunting the panchayat for past many years. We have no land, neither there is comunidade land in the panchayat area. I will correspond with Shantadurga Temple committee with regards to getting possession of the land. The temple committee is positive towards our demand. The panchayat will install the garbage treatment plant at an estimated Rs 45 lakh by utilising the funds under Fourteenth Finance Commission. The plant will not affect the residents as it would not emanate stench. Currently, the panchayat spends nearly Rs 1.35 lakh on garbage disposal.”
The sarpanch also assured to clear all the 11 scrapyards operating in Dhavlim within the next few days. The locals complained that several scrapyards handle dangerous chemicals and are located near patrol pump. The locals suspected anti-social activities in these scrapyards. The sarpanch said, “Since past 20 years I have been fighting against scrapyards. The Director of Panchayat (DOP) had issued order in the past for demolishing these scrapyards but the owners approached the court and obtained stay. All scrapyards are illegal and have no permission from government authorities. As soon as panchayat manages to vacate the court stay, the next day all 11 scrapyards will be demolished.”
The sarpanch also felicitated Vidi Desai and her son for regularly collecting garbage along the roadside by creating awareness on cleanliness.
