MAPUSA: The special gram sabha of Siolim-Sodiem village panchayat on Tuesday stressed on preservation of village fabric and insulating the village from mega forces of construction and destruction.
The special gram sabha headed by Sarpanch Deepa Pednekar discussed many important issues and the Village Development Committee (VDC) adotped various important resolutions. It was pointed out that the village is facing water scarcity and as such there must be water harvesting facility set up for which adequate land must be identified and acquired. The VDC was of the view that this water scarcity was being caused due to improper water management and so the village panchayat must seriously work on this issue of ensuring water is available to all and this water scarcity issue to overcome the crisis.
As the village has a vast area being covered by the Tillari irrigational canal, the issue of construction in the command area also figured and the gram sabha members urged the panchayat to impress upon the Water Resources Department (WRD) officials to conduct an inspection of the area and to demolish all illegal constructions that have sprouted there.
The focus of the gram sabha however was on the devastation of the village due to ever increasing constructions. The VDC strongly resolved that no constructions be permitted at any cost in private forests and in agricultural land and prompt action be taken against those found indulging in illegal construction in forest or agriculture lands.
The VDC felt that the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) be maintained with regards to construction and all violations be assessed and acted upon. All types of hill cuttings, illegal conversions, illegal constructions, illegal tree felling and illegal filling of fields came under severe criticism and it was resolved that all this should be opposed and that the greenery and biodiversity of the viillage be maintained and retained at any cost.
When it was pointed out by the panchayat that the builder lobby were brining pressure from higher ups and even the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department was clearing their files without giving a second thought, the VDC stated that no higher ups or TCP department had any right to dictate and impose their whims and fancies on the village of Siolim-Sodiem. The villagers are solely responsible for carving the destiny of the village and deciding what should be accepted and what should not.
The VDC urged the village panchayat that all construction files coming to the panchayat should from now on be compulsorily placed before the VDC and biodiversity management committee, who would decide their fate as the village was being destroyed due to rapid constructions that were eating into all natural resources.
The VDC resolved to also write to the agriculture department to conduct inspections of all fields where traditional accesses have been blocked by constructions and felt that these should be maintained so that the villagers can start cultivating their fields. The gram sabha unanimously opposed moves to transfer abruptly the panchayat secretary Akhil Mahalkar and demanded that he be retained in the panchayat and to engage the services of legal luminaries like Adv Rohit Bras De Sa and other such selfless advocates with regards to maintaining the fabric of the village.
