OLD GOA: Old Goa residents condemned the government’s decision to hold ZP elections on party lines as they suspected that it would result in forcing the ideologies of the parties on voters at the grassroots level.
Raising the issue at the gram sabha on Sunday, Aaron D’Mello objected to this and demanded that a resolution should be sent to the government citing objection of the Old Goa villagers.
Supporting D’Mello, Gandhi Henriques said it would be better for the voters to vote for the candidate of their choice than political parties forcing its candidates on the voters.
Sarpanch Prakash Amonkar put the issue to vote, where a majority of the members voted in favour of the resolution.
The issue of preparing a master plan was discussed at length with Henriques stating that the panchayat should form a committee consisting of concerned stakeholders, prominent citizens, government officials and others. “The draft plan could then be sent to the government for approval,” he added while stating that the Old Goa Citizens’ Forum, of which he is the president, is willing to lend its help to the panchayat.
Speaking on the issue, Fr Visitacao Monteiro said the committee should include people from other places as well. “The name of Edgar Ribeiro should be included in the committee as he had earlier planned a master plan for Old Goa and his inputs would be helpful,” he opined.
Some locals also raised the issue of reopening of the road between the historic churches with the panchayat authorities being commended for their efforts in getting the road opened.
However, parking of vehicles along the stretch of this road was objected to by the locals who demanded that the panchayat should write to the traffic police and the Old Goa police not to allow parking of vehicles along the stretch of the road, particularly at the entrance gates of the Basilica and Se Cathedral.
The panchayat authorities stated that the panchayat currently lacks ample space for parking, due to which the problem occurs. “We have already submitted a proposal to the government to acquire land for parking,” said a panch, who stated that the panchayat has not received any favourable response from the government thus far.
