TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The special gram sabha of Velim on Sunday unanimously resolved to oppose the mini fishing harbour at Cutbona fishing jetty.
At the Sunday meeting which was attended by a large number of villagers, it was also unanimously resolved to revoke the NOC dated June 15, 2013, issued by the panchayat body to the Director of Fisheries for the development of the Cutbona jetty.
The special gram sabha witnessed heated discussions between the members and Sarpanch Melwin Sanches, who tried to clarify that the panchayat body has already taken a resolution opposing the mini fishing harbour and to maintain the fishing jetty.
Sanches further informed that the NOC issued by the panchayat was time barred and hence expired. However, gram sabha members demanded that resolution be adopted to revoke the said NOC. Resolution adopted also stated that the panchayat body shall issue NOC to fisheries department for development/upgrading the Cutbona jetty by 226 mts and construction of 50 toilets only after consultation/approval of gram sabha and also of TCP.
The sarpanch was accused of not rallying behind the villagers on the issue, with some members even demanding his resignation. Sunday gram sabha which was also attended by local MLA Benjamin Silva witnessed a strong police presence below the meeting hall but no untoward incident was reported. Former boat owners association president Seby Cardozo clarified that the earlier association had demanded improvement/development of Cutbona jetty and toilets. He claimed that at no point there was a demand for a mini fishing harbor or fish landing harbour. At one point, villagers threatened to close the jetty from November 17 as the sarpanch was refusing to adopt the resolution for withdrawal of the earlier NOC.
Meanwhile, MLA Silva was questioned by some gram sabha members on his right to participate in the gram sabha discussions. The sarpanch tried to pacify the agitated members informing that the panchayat body had invited the MLA. The sarpanch, however, was the target of the members, who accused him of not being with the villagers and even demanding that he should resign.
Later, the MLA requested the villagers not to bring personnel grudges at the meeting and instead work in unity for the village development.
The MLA said the boat owners need a jetty with proper infrastructure, adding that the villagers were being misled in regard to the up-gradation of Cutbona jetty. He said the proposed upgrading work is to construct a retaining wall, road and toilets. While complementing Velim villagers for the united decision opposing the mini fishing harbor at Cutbona, the MLA claimed that he wants to work for development in the village and that the same could be achieved untidily with villagers.
