Team Herald
MARGAO: The Loutolim gram sabha discussed the acquisition of land by government for a landfill site for the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
Member Franky Monteiro stated that the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in a petition filed by Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) against the (MMC), had directed the South Goa Collector to identify a landfill site for the MMC. He further said that 25,000 sq mts of land in Loutolim has been approved by the authorities for the landfill site. The land was acquired by Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for setting up a 220 KVA electric sub station, but during the acquisition process, the electricity department addressed a letter to GIDC requesting to stall the process as the land was no longer required.
However, days before the process was to lapse, GIDC acquired the land for the electricity department and adopted a resolution to use it for further expansion of Verna Industrial Estate. The acquisition was challenged by the Loutolim comunidade at the High Court, which has restrained the GIDC from taking over possession of the land, said Monteiro.
Monteiro alleged that the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and other authorities had approved the landfill site, which is adjacent to the NH-17B in Salcete, without proper ground verification.
The gram sabha strongly objected to the proposed landfill site in Loutolim, stating that the identified land is sloping and there are residential houses, springs and wells in the vicinity. They stated that the landfill site will cause water and environment pollution, and hence, they unanimously directed the panchayat to write to the Collector, TCP, GSPCB and other authorities requesting them to drop the proposal of constructing a landfill site for MMC on the identified land in Loutolim.
Discussions were also held on the allegedly illegal gaddas operating along the roads near the church. The sarpanch explained that site inspections had been carried out and show cause notices had been issued to the gadda operators. Member Joaquim Gracias was not satisfied with the panchayat’s delay in pursuing the matter and proposed to expedite action to remove the gadaas.
The minutes of the gram sabha meeting were recorded on the spot by the panchayat secretary as one of there were complaints that the resolutions were not being recorded on the spot, as mandated in the Panchayati Raj Act.
