PONDA: The issue of highway expansion once again took centre stage at the Bhoma-Adkon gram sabha. An important resolution was passed regarding the four-lane highway plan passing through Bhoma village. Villagers expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the plan lacks proper demonstration and was formulated without consulting them. As a result, they called for the plan to be scrapped and replaced with a new one that incorporates the concerns and inputs of the villagers. Additionally, the villagers requested the construction of a bypass road within the village.
Chaired by Sarpanch Damodar Naik, the Gram Sabha convened in a pandal erected in front of the Panchayat, with a large turnout of villagers.
Members voiced their frustration, highlighting that the government rushed the plan without consulting them. A unanimous resolution was passed, urging the Panchayat to correspond with acthe State Government, Public Works Department, Chief Minister, and Union Minister of Roads and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.
Another crucial matter which came up for discussion was the newly built market at Banastarim at the cost of Rs 19 crore. Since some shopkeepers filed a petition in the court regarding allotment of the kiosks in the market, villagers expressed suspicion over the government building the market illegally. Locals also brought it to the notice of the sabha that the village’s fair price shop has not been allotted space in the market and is being run in a rented space for the past few years at the rent of Rs18,500 per month. Sarpanch Naik clarified that there is a complaint against the FPS with the Department of Vigilance which prevents them from allotting kiosks to the shop in the market.
Locals also resolved to write to the Pollution Control Board asking them to keep watch on the pollution created by the companies based close to the village.
