MARGAO: The Sarzora gram sabha began on a stormy note with some villagers demanding the presence of former sarpanch and present panchayat member for the meeting to apologise to another panchayat member.
Former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane was condemned through a resolution adopted under “Any other Business” for his statement about Goans working overseas.
The gram sabha began on a stormy note as villagers demanded the presence of Wilson Fernandes the former sarpanch and present panchayat member. The villagers were demanding an apology from Wilson for the manner in which he spoke to newly elected panchayat member Perpetual Mascarenhas.
Perpetual who has been elected to the panchayat from the same ward that was earlier represented by her husband after his death was reportedly told by Wilson that what she was doing did not suit the position she occupied and the villagers were demanding an apology for that.
However, Sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas Vas pacified the people and assured them that she would call for a special meeting with Wilson and the villagers to sort out the matter and only after this assurance the gram sabha continued.
The gram sabha objected to the amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification on grounds that it was not in the interest of Goans but aimed at helping builders and hoteliers and also cautioned that access to beach would not be free to the people if the amendment is allowed.
Sarpanch Sabita allowed people to raise issues under “Any Other Business” as there were only two written suggestions from the villagers for the gram sabha.
“What is the point of having a gram sabha if people cannot participate and many of them cannot write or they forget to give in writing and they cannot be denied the right to raise issues concerning them,” she said speaking to Herald.
Sabita disclosed that she has also informed the BDO and the Director of Panchayats that not having AOB for gram sabha would render the meeting unfruitful as people would not be able to raise issues. Incidentally, as many as 15 different issues were raised by the villagers today during the AOB.
The villagers outright condemned former chief minister Pratapsing Rane for his statement on Goans working overseas and pointed out that Goans had to migrate to get jobs as the governments failed to provide them employment opportunities.
The gram sabha also demanded that the Major District Road from Dandevaddo to Guddi passing through the village be dropped and argued that if the government could drop the road in Colva following a demand from the locals, it should also drop the MDR passing through their village..
The villagers gave their approval for a mobile tower to be erected in the village provided that it is erected only by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and no other company or service provider.
