MARGAO: The Carmona gram sabha witnessed heated discussions on the Raheja issue, the Regional Plan 2021 (RP21) and mobile towers.
On the Raheja issue, the gram sabha questioned the panchayat as to why it had failed to respond to the objections raised by the villagers. They recalled that the panchayat had issued a construction licence for the project even though the villagers had submitted written objections two days prior. They asked the panchayat what action it had taken on the TCP inspection report and demanded that the panchayat serve a show-cause notice to Raheja seeking submission of a fresh plan.
Sarpanch Sandra Fernandes, who chaired the meeting, explained that the TCP report had been placed in a panchayat meeting and they had written to the TCP, but the TCP had replied that the file is with the government. She also lamented that the issue has been dragging on for too long.
There was major confusion then when the gram sabha proposed a resolution for the panchas to resign for failing to endorse an earlier gram sabha resolution demanding revocation of Raheja’s licence. The gram sabha further demanded that Fernandes convene an emergency panchayat meeting and adjourn the gram sabha for a short time to endorse that resolution. However, this demand was not accepted by the chair.
Regarding the issue of mobile towers, the gram sabha unanimously passed a resolution not to allow mobile towers near residential houses and in private property due to the risks of radiation. There were also complaints that the proposals for mobile towers did not include the locations.
The gram sabha then passed a resolution to scrap the RP21 if the suggestions sent by the panchayat are not accepted. Fernandes stated that the suggestions that had been sent by the village committee in 2011 were not incorporated in the plan that is open, and thus, the suggestions had been sent again to the TCP on December 29, 2015.
The gram sabha also discussed a proposal to develop an open space, but it did not arrive at a consensus.
Incidentally, the meeting was temporarily stopped after Carmona Village and Social Welfare Forum President Socorro Miranda experienced chest pain and had to be taken to a hospital.
