MARGAO: In a total contrast to the directions of the Director of Panchayat conveyed through the Block Development Officer, the Navelim Gram Sabha today resolved to retain “AOB” in the agenda for the gram sabha and also resolved to change the Regional Plan of the village to include the Saipem lake as a water body.
The villagers argued that gram sabha is the only opportunity they get to raise or discuss various issues of importance to the village and further stated that most often because of their busy schedule they do not get time to give in writing whatever they wanted to be discussed.
The villagers also objected to the panchayat issuing certificates to SC/ST community people from other states living in their village on grounds that they did not know the antecedents of the non-Goans and it would not be right to certify that they belong to a particular community.
Taking note that the famous Saipem lake is not reflected in the Regional Plan or the Village plan, the gram sabha resolved that this water body has to be shown in the maps and accordingly asked the panchayat to write to the Town and Country Planning Department to include Saipem lake as a water body in the maps.
Besides, the surrounding fields be also marked as wetlands said the villagers.
The gram sabha once again resolved against inclusion of six Goan rivers in the national waterways as the Chief Minister had written to the panchayat clarifying that only six rivers from Goa have been included in the national waterways.
The gram sabha resolved that they opposed inclusion of any river from Goa in the national waterways and asserted that only the state government should have powers to decide about the rivers in Goa.
The gram sabha also resolved to save the tree popularly known as Zaar Ambo which is threatened to be chopped in view of the Western bypass that is being constructed near to it.
It was also decided to employ one temporary staff to the panchayat.
