Garbage woes dominate Aldona gram sabha

PORVORIM, OCT 3
The Aldona Gram Sabha on Sunday dominated the issue of garbage disposal in the village.
Sarpanch Dilip Haldankar informed the villagers that the site selected earlier by the panchayat for dumping garbage was not approved by the Pollution Control Board (PCB), as it was close to the Primary Health Centre.
“Hence, the panchayat selected another site in the land belonging to Communidade and the proposal was sent to the Collector for approval. However, the panchayat has now received reply from the Collector stating that the site needs to be approved by PCB,” informed Haldankar.
“The panchayat has written a letter to PCB for inspection of the site,” added the sarpanch.
Marie D’Souza said the issue of selection of site for garbage is going on for the last two years. “Till the site is finalized, the panchayat should start plastic collection drive,” added D’Souza. The sarpanch accepted the suggestion and said needful will be done.
Anthony Carvalho said the residents of Aldona are facing difficulties to go to Primary Health Centre at Gavar due to non-availability of public transport.
“Private transport like rickshaws and taxis are quiet expensive and hence the transport authorities may be requested to direct buses plying along the Aldona-Panjim route to go to Gavar and then proceed to Panjim,” suggested Carvalho.
“Alternately, buses proceeding towards Mapusa may be diverted via Gavar-Nachinola-Moira route,” said Carvalho.
Carvalho further said the Sr Superintendent of Mapusa Post Office had issued a circular to all its branches on December 18, 2009, to display on their notice board 14 services being rendered by the post office.
“However, the Corjuem branch of post office has not displayed this list on their notice board and hence the matter may be taken up with the Sr Superintendent of Mapusa Post Office,” he added.
Teo D’Souza brought to the notice of the sarpanch that the panchayat is yet to form the Social Justice Committee as required under the Panchayat Raj Act.
“The panchayat cannot finalize the names of applicants desiring to avail benefits of government schemes unless those names are scrutinized and approved by the Social Justice Committee,” said D’Souza.
Acting on D’Souza’s suggestion, the sarpanch formed the committee comprising Nicholas Dias, J Pereira, Jose Rodrigues, Anthony Carvalho and Shamba Satelkar.
Sarpanch Haldankar said the panchayat has undertaken development works worth Rs 7.50 crore in Aldona.
Major works include construction of storm drain (Rs 91.91 lakh), reconstruction of damaged culvert at Calvim (Rs 21.58 lakh), hotmixing of roads at Calvim (Rs 57.05 lakh), construction of roads in Panth Carona (Rs 40.57 lakhs), construction of footpaths on various lanes (Rs 39.14 lakhs) and laying of hot-mixing carpet to internal roads at Quitla and Carona (Rs 71.76 lakh), informed Haldankar.
Earlier Sarpanch Haldankar welcomed the gathering, Panchayat Secretary Peter Martins read the minutes of the gram sabha held on July 11.