CALANGUTE: Heated discussions were witnessed at the Saligao gram sabha on Sunday, over the functioning of the garbage treatment plant (GTP) in the village with members questioning the panchayat as to why garbage from across the State is being brought here.

Villagers pointed out that water bodies in the village have been polluted due to seepage of leachate from the GTP over the years.

“There is shortage of water supplied through our taps and our wells are also polluted. If this is the situation now, what will happen to our future generations if all the garbage from Goa is brought to the Saligao GTP?” villagers wondered.

The problem of constant power failures, water shortage and potholed roads was also brought up with villagers saying they are always given big promises about uninterrupted power and water supply every time when there is an election, but there’s hardly any improvement.

They also demanded a full-time panchayat secretary, claiming that their works are held up because the panchayat secretary is hardly available.