TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Town planner Edgar Ribeiro and environmentalist Madhav Gadgil on Sunday guided members of the Jua Comunidade (St Estevam) to re-organize the comunidade.
According to information, the Jua Comunidade organised the meeting at Casa-do-Povo hall, St Estevam, and invited Ribeiro, Gadgil and comunidade expert Adv Andre Pereira.
“The experts were invited for discussion on the importance of comunidade and to guide us to reorganize the Jua Comunidade. There was valuable feedback and suggestions from Ribeiro, Gadgil and Adv Pereira on how to maintain records and maps and scientific conservations of the documents which are in shambles,” said Dias.
Jua Comunidade attorney Gustav Silviera said, “Based on the directions during discussion, we will work to formulate the base map for Jua Comunidade which will also form authentic document for reference in the future. Adv Pereira also gave us valuable information pertaining to documents of the comunidade.”
Ribeiro said people here feel that Regional Plan was prepared without taking them into confidence. “People here are very worried how the comunidade land will be used and whether corrective measures can be suggested,” said Ribeiro.
“Apart from the base map for Jua Comunidade, records need to be maintained properly and later they can take up the issue with the authorities. I have also suggested bringing ward committees in panchayat on the comunidade board so that there is better community participation in the planning,” added Ribeiro.
Gadgil said this was his first-hand experience of Gaonkari system. “Comunidade is a system of involving community for effective utilization of resources and there is a need to renew this traditional system in accordance with modern times,” said Gadgil.
