Team Herald
MARGAO: The haphazard desilting of the River Sal by the Water Resources Department (WRD) dominated the Nuvem Gram sabha on Sunday. Garbage collection, mobile towers, hoardings were among other issues that were debated.
Gram sabha member Mariano Da Costa objected to the reckless work undertaken by the contractor desilting the River Sal and alleged that farmers were not taken into confidence by the WRD when the work was being undertaken.
He charged that the river should be desilted in a proper manner and stated that many bundh owners had already written to the WRD to be cautious while desilting the river.
Da Costa alleged that machinery used to uproot trees growing alongside the bundhs would not only lead to soil erosion but the protective bundhs would disappear during the rainy season too.
“The manner in which trees are mercilessly cut and vegetation recklessly cleared, will also destroy the biodiversity,” Da Costa said.
Another gram sabha member Carmelito Andrade proposed to ban installation of any new 5G and feeder towers in the village as it posed the risk of EMF radiation and produced a copy of the IEEE paper study to substantiate his claims. The resolution was unanimously passed at the gram sabha.
The Official Gazette notification related to revenue to be collected from each household for garbage collection was discussed by the Sarpanch Freeda D’Sa. The members pointed out that the Official Gazette does not differentiate between dry and wet waste, and asked the Panchayat to clarify this.
In addition, the Gazette suggested a fee for Rs 75 per month, but the gram sabha members wanted to reduce this to Rs 50 and also demanded that the Panchayat to continue with Rs 100 for wet waste. It was further suggested at the GS meeting that all these points above and the details the Gazette notification be discussed/deliberated in detail with the Panchyat Garbage Committee, before bringing this in the next gram sabha.
There was also a suggestion to have a garbage free update for households that let their out houses to migrants as they are the ones who keep dumping waste by the roadside and open spaces.
Another gram sabha member Everson Valles also pointed out a High Court order to remove all hoardings at the side of the highways, and suggested the panchayat to look into the matter.
