Team Herald
MARGAO: The Telaulim gram sabha on Sunday objected to developing a burial ground for Muslims on the banks of River Sal in neighbouring Navelim village. It also resolved not to respond to the letter by Margao Municipal Council seeking information about its garbage management system.
The gram sabha that was attended by 24 villagers and five of the seven panchayat members unanimously resolved against setting up a Muslim burial ground on the banks of River Sal as the area earmarked was low lying that was actually catchment area and gets flooded during the monsoons.
“We are not against the burial ground for the Muslims, but we object to the location as it gets flooded and the waste including the decomposing waste will seep into the river which is already polluted by releasing raw sewage from the sewage treatment plant,” the villagers said.
With regards to the letter by MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik seeking information about the garbage management system and cautioning of warning people found dumping garbage in its jurisdiction, the gram sabha endorsed Sarpanch Estevan Goes’ stand of not disclosing their system.
The sarpanch pointed out that they collect dry garbage from households while people manage their own wet garbage and saw no reason why the system be disclosed to MMC which has nothing to do with the village.
As one villager disclosed that he disposes his garbage within the municipal area, it was decided to write to the government asking it to set up a garbage treatment plant for a cluster of villages so that financially weaker panchayats could benefit.
It was decided to install signboards warning against dumping garbage and loitering after Zacharias Goes pointed out that very often at midnight groups of youngsters come to Dialgona and go in the fields for whatever activities they come and even disclosed that once there was a group of five boys going in the fields with only one girl at midnight with the girl seen returning at around 4 am.
A villager Anthony Pires was hauled up for approving the Coastal Zone Management Plan without even having seen the plan. Another villager Peter Coutinho revealed that many fields that were not cultivated for long are shown as mangroves in the plan and said this has to be objected to.
As owners are no longer cultivating the fields the river banks are not being maintained and that is why mangroves have encroached in the fields and this needs to be removed they argued but were stuck on the matter of who would do the cleaning or spend the money on it.
With the regards to the Prime Minister’s letter to the sarpanch asking for water harvesting, it was decided to first strengthen the banks of the three lakes in the village besides repairing the storm water drain. The panchayat was also asked to check with the authorities whether the panchayat will be given some funds for water conservation.
“Although this will not be possible to be undertaken this year, next year we can seal the outlet of the lakes in September so that water can be collected as was done earlier,” said the sarpanch even as villagers pointed out that in September the fields are not harvested.
“One has to consider the fact that a different breed of paddy is cultivated now that takes longer to mature and harvesting is now done with harvesting machines which may not be available in September,” said the villagers.
Incidentally all these issues were discussed as Any Other Business and the only official agenda taken up was confirming minutes of the previous meeting, statement of account, audit report and the kabrastan issue.
