http://oheraldo.in/node/8994
Victoria 'let down' Mormugao villages HERALD CORRESPONDENT CORTALIM, JAN 25 – If you think that all the villages have been excluded from PDAs, then you are sadly mistaken, notwithstanding the fact that Deputy Speaker Victoria Fernandes who spearheaded the agitation, even had a 'victory rally' in her St Cruz constituency earlier this month. In a notification issued recently, the government has excluded villages from only two talukas – Bardez and Tiswadi. However, some from Mormugao taluka continue to remain under Mormugao PDA. These are Chicalim, Bogmallo-Chicolna, Sancoale villages and Issorcim ward under Velsao panchayat. Some panchayats of the Mormugao taluka have criticised the Santa Cruz MLA for letting them down on the removal of their villages from PDAs and termed the rally as a 'farce.' Crticising Mrs Victoria, Sancoale panch Simon Carvalho wondered as to how the St Cruz MLA could claim 'victory' when all the villages have not been removed from the PDAs, as she demanded. He claimed that apart from the panchayat passing a resolution demanding withdrawal of PDA (which was reported earlier), he along with some Sancoale locals also participated in the 'victory' rally organised by Victoria. Likewise, copy of the resolution was also sent to the chief minister, Town and Country Planning Minister and other officials. Sancoale Sarpanch Rocky Vales also demanded that the village be excluded from the PDAs. Also expressing opposition to the PDA was the Chicalim sarpanch Raul D'Costa. He said the panchayat had opposed PDA and also passed resolution in this regard. When asked why he opposed PDAs, the sarpanch informed that unlike Town and Country Planning, the PDAs accept the files directly as a result of which the panchayats are kept in the dark. He gave an instance of a construction coming up in his village opposite Pralad Saw Mill where a construction was coming up violating the road set backs. Incidentally, the Chicalim panchayat has two members on the PDA Board Shoba Pawar and Anacleto D'Souza. Mormugao PDA includes three panchayat and Issorcim under Velsao panchayat apart from Vasco city. Issorcim under Velsao Panchayat which has been for the first time included in PDA by the Rane government has also drawn criticism from the Sarpanch Lawrence Rodrigues who has demanded the exclusion of Issorcim from PDA. Bogmallo-Chicolna Panchayat Sarpanch Gabriel D'Cruz was not available for comments, but a source from the panchayat claimed that the panchayat was against the PDA. -- Salaam ali kum. Gabe Menezes. London, England
