PANJIM: The Chimbel gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to oppose and reject the inclusion of the village in the Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA).
It is pertinent that the Curca-Bambolim and St Cruz gram sabhas too rejected inclusion of their villages in the GPPDA.
Besides a large number of villagers, the gram sabha was attended by all the 11 panchas who supported the unanimously resolution of the gram sabha.
Chimbel residents Paul Fernandes, Govind Shirodkar, Manual Fernandes speaking at the gram sabha informed the villagers about the negative impact of including the village in the GPPDA. They said that the identity and heritage of Chimbel was already facing threats due to ongoing uncontrolled haphazard construction and once the village is included in the GPPDA, the future of the village would be jeopardised.
Shirodkar said that whole of Chimbel village including all hilly areas around the Kadambha plateau, in southern military camp border of Talaulim village and paddy fields have been included in the GPPDA. “This will cause disappearance of the complete green forest belt as well as low lying areas,” he said.
Villagers said every March, April and May, the residents of Chimbel village face acute water shortage. There is absolutely no improvement in supply of PWD water for the past 10 years in the village.
Further they said that a large number of trees, which perhaps are more than 50-100 years old, are being cut to facilitate housing projects, which has resulted in depletion of ground water level.
“The panchayat till today has not identified a site for disposable of garbage; there is no sewerage system in Chimbel and as a result, the ground water is getting polluted,” the villagers said.
“If Chimbel village is brought under Greater Panjim PDA more areas will be come under settlement zone and garden/orchard areas will disappear. There will be more and more construction activities without there being basic amenities and infrastructure in place,” most of the residents emphasized on same reason.
In view of same, the villagers unanimously reject the government decision to include Chimbel in Greater Panjim PDA.
Opposition panch members well as ruling panchas including Sarpanch extended their full support to the villagers and informed the gram sabha that they would be soon resigning from Goa Forward Party if TCP minister is adamant and does not exclude Chimbel from GPPDA.
Villager also warmly welcomed the decision of Chimbel Sarpanch who declared that he would resign as GPPDA member if the village is included in GPPDA.
It was also decided to hold public meetings soon in the village if government is adamant on including the village in GPPDA.
Chimbel villagers strongly criticized GFP supremo and TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai for using dread, disrespectful language about Chimbel village on the floor of Goa Assembly recently in his reply to question of MLA of St Cruz.
