PONDA: During a Sunday gram sabha gathering, Usgao-Ganjem residents voiced their grievances regarding a long running water crisis despite the presence of the Mhadei River and Ganjem Bandhara in their area. Additionally, the lack of employment opportunities for locals in the numerous industries operating in the area drew attention.
Chaired by Sarpanch Narendra Gaonkar, the gram sabha served as a platform for residents of the Usgao-Ganjem village panchayat area to express their concerns. Residents highlighted the problems of receiving only two hours of water supply daily, while industrial projects within the panchayat area extracted water from the river round-the-clock. Despite the presence of the Mhadei River and the Ganjem Barrage, the community continues to face a severe water shortage.
During the meeting, residents emphasised that the government should prioritize the needs of the local villagers when it comes to water supply.
Adding to the litany of grievances, villagers lamented the lack of employment opportunities for locals within the Usgao-Ganjem Panchayat jurisdiction despite the presence of several industries. With around 13 industries operating in the area, residents insisted that priority should be given to local youth in terms of employment. Their concerns were aggravated by the observation that many of these industries were employing workers from other parts of Goa and different states, leaving local residents deprived. They called upon the village panchayat to take action against companies that overlook locals for employment while simultaneously utilizing the village’s water and power resources.
