PONDA: The villagers from Shiroda on Friday gheraoed the local sarpanch for cancelling the special gram sabha demanded by them to discuss the Draft Coastal Zone Management (GCZM) Plan of the village.
Following the confrontation, Sarpanch Amit Shirodkar assured that the gram sabha which was cancelled would be held as per their wish on July 28, to discuss the issue.
Sarpanch later gave a written assurance to hold the gram sabha to discuss on CZMP.
According to the villagers, last week they were shown the plan of Shiroda and discussion was held on the draft CZM. However, as they learnt that the CZMP for the village was prepared without taking them into confidence and keeping them in the dark, the affected farmers, fishermen demanded a special gram sabha on July 28, to put forward their suggestions.
The villagers were hoping that the gram sabha would be a powerful medium to oppose the faulty plan. But on hearing that panchayat had cancelled the Sunday meeting, they gathered to demand that the gram sabha be held planned on July 28.
According to Sarpanch Shirodkar, gram sabha held on July 7 had already passed a resolution against the CZMP.
