PANJIM: The gram sabha of the Siolim-Sodiem Village Panchayat on Sunday witnessed heated discussion on the Tillari canal, which was constructed in the forested areas of the hill, with the villagers alleging that it was a white elephant and demanded a white paper on it.
The gram sabha members vociferously opposed the government’s decision to carry out repair works of the canal and demanded compensation as 340 hectares of once fertile fields were waterlogged due to leakage of the canal and rendered useless for farming for the last 20 years, and wells have been contaminated due to the leaking canal.
The attendees pointed out that around 90 per cent of the villagers were farmers and they are totally dependent on fields.
They even lashed out at the WRD Minister for failing to keep up to his word and failing to turn up for the site inspection on August 11.
Villagers said that the gram sabha was supreme and the politicians, including those in power, have no right to impose any project unilaterally which were an ‘ecological disaster’ to them.
They said that due to the faulty project, they are not able to even get a grain of rice. A resolution moved by Biodiversity Chairperson Peter de Sousa and seconded by Pramod Pednekar was passed unanimously resolving that they will not allow the government to carry out repair works of the canal. “Restore the land to its original status and we will go back to farming,” said the villagers.
The panchayat members too backed the villagers on the issue. The gram sabha also resolved not to allow hill cutting and also opposed mega housing projects as these were having repercussions in the village, especially with regard to electricity and water.
The gram sabha resolved that the Bio-diversity Committee and the Village Development Committee members be made part of site inspection and issuing of licence for any construction.
Gram sabha members pointed out that builders were buying land with no access at throw-away prices and were constructing roads over culverts and drains defying all laws in order to obtain permissions, and it was resolved to demolish all such illegalities.
The gram sabha members asked for deployment of police personnel on either side of the link road to Marna to ensure that traffic is restricted during peak hours and no heavy vehicles are allowed, so that there is no disturbance caused to Holy Cross High School in Gaunsa vaddo.
They also demanded that CCTV cameras be installed for the safety of students.
Sarpanch Deepa Pednekar informed that the Panchayat had already written to Mapusa Traffic Cell in this regard. The gram sabha members then asked the sarpanch to send a reminder to the traffic police and mention in the letter that they will be held accountable if any accident takes place leading to loss of human life.
When the gram sabha also demanded that dangerous trees by the roadside be cut and panchayat bear the cost, the sarpanch replied that the disaster management committee had sanctioned only Rs 10,000 and hence it was not possible to bear the costs. Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh Vaigankar, however, promised to do it at his personal level for which he was thanked by the members.
The villagers also demanded to get the Pondnir footbridge be repaired immediately as it was on the verge of collapse. The gram sabha members later congratulated the panchayat for reaching out the people irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
