A marathon Gram Sabha today 25th May, 2008 near the Village Panchayat of
Sernabatim Vanelim Colva and Gandaulim witnessed an adjourned unconcluded
agenda following a spirited disussion between the Chairman ( the Deputy
Sarpanch Mama who took charge of the proceedings in the absence of the Sarpanch
who proceeded on a months leave from 5th May to 5th June) and others
This meeting was called by a group of Gram Sabha members as the earlier
one could not be held in April 2008.
There were major issues of grant of licences to mega projects the inaction of
the Panchas. The first issue invloved a spirited discussion by
one Ms Juliet Rodrigues from Grande Vanelim Colva who alleged
that at least 20 residents were victims of malaria owing to migrants
settled near the sites where mega projects are underway. She
demanded that the Panchayat should pay the medical bills of the affected
villagers as it was their imisdeeds that had brought disease in the area.
Mr Camilson suggested a panel of architects (Mr Dean D Cruz Sarto Almeida or
from Colva Village ) ward panch and three members to examine the profile
of each project and make the same available to the public before granting
them permission.
It was pointed out by the Chairman that the buildings with Ground + two floors
were given a different touch following an amendment by the then Town and
Country Planning Minister Mr Antanasio (Babush ) Monseratte and hence any
change to this rule would need Government intervention by an act of the
Legislature.
There were no roads in the jurisdiction of the Village Panchayat which were
beyond 6 metres and therefore the need for 8 metres road was questioned.
Some of the members alleged that after 1987 when metered water
connections were introduced ther were no changes in the pipelines as a result
there was shortfall of water supply. Similarly there was failure of power
supply and there is a need for proper distribution system, There was an
heated argument as to what constituted infra structure amongs the panchas and
the members .
One member brought the demand to scrap the yellow and black taxis, in toto as
nowehere in Goa were they operating. Instead they proposed that KTC should
introduce buses via the old bridge at Mungul instead of the circutious route
via Dando Benaulim as the women did not like travelling with tourists and
migrants cramped in the taxis. The Chairman agreed to put up
this proposal with both the Chairman Mr Aleixo Lourenco in consultation with
the MLA
Another member Xavier Fernandes alleged that the builder Akr Creations Pvt Ltd
Fatordea Goa had agreed to take care of the mundcars and had
signed a sworn affidavit dated 31.3.2007 regd no; 3223 in that but without
pursuing the clauses 2 . 3 & 4 of the agreement the builder had neared
completion of the project, Incidentally their well was buried and large
mounds of mud was placed in their fields destroying their livelihood.
They were pained to note that the Panch failed to respect their views and
therefore unable to bear the sufferings they have now decided that the Gram
Sabha should revoke the licences instead of a mere stop work They also
demanded that the notice be served on Monday 26th May. 2008 and that the well
and the dump be cleared.
One Terezinha made it clear ----when it was alleged that the Panch were
afraid to take on the might of the builder --- that Builders should stand
forewarned that they should heed to wishes of the people not the other way
round. There was an uproarious applause at this suggestions.
Some villagers also allleged that diseases like malaria were unheard of in the
past but it was the influx of migrants. They alleged that ponds lakes
rivers were full of garbage stench and filth and therefore warned the Panchayat
to stand forewarned on the nuanaces.
There was another incident where permission was granted for a religous place of
worship Shri Mahalakshmi Saunstha Trust Colva way back in 2003 but there
were no parking space as a result there was rampant parking on open spaces
inconveniencing the villagers. They demanded that it was the neglect of
the Panchayat for granting permission without the provision of parking.
When the Chairman Mr Sukhanand P Panandikar assured that new plans were
submitted he wondered how a project which was almost completed was given the
NOC and now fresh plans were accepted. for a mutistoreyed parking.
There was also a suggestion that when new drains were being proposed on the eve
of the oncoming monsoon they should ensure that roads are suitably widened to
atleast 6 metres and then only after clearing the traditional drains the news
drains could be put in place. At one instance it was pointed out that if
this excercise of planning was taken those who sufferred flooding would be
affected it was agreed that emergency cases could be attended to.
The villagers resolved to clear of the village of all the scrapyards, There
were several instances of subletting and therefore the name photograph of the
licence holder should be displayed on the (gaddas) kiosks
Infact what would otherwise have been a peaceful gram sabha turned out in a
fiasco which required the presence of police force and special armed police as
well to quell frayed tempers . The meeting in the first place began at 11.00
hrs . The mike arrangements were put in place much after the crowd had
already assembled. This resulted in the gathering being annoyed
. Then the sudden absence of the Sarpanch too annoyed the
gathering. There were no sufficient chair to meet the needs of the
gathering. In fact one supporter of a panch member told this writer that
in the past there was never such an unprecedented meeting as this one..
One member made a demand that the traditional houses in the CRZ zones be
permitted to continue and reconstructed with additions and the
local MLA who is a Minister should put this proposal in the
Cabinet before the next monsoon session. A plan showing in green orange
and red was shown to the gathering. He said that in any battle there were
Constitutional Judicial and Peoples views viz Gram Sabhas and therfore we need
to send this resolution to the Government
One member demanded the shifting of the transformer from his property which was
agred upon.
There were heated exchanges between two panch members one Mr Calvert Gonsalves
who was seen in almost a verbiose exchange of personal attacks on one Camilson
Barretto of Sernabattim. There was another incident when in the heat of
the argument Mr Gonsalves also uttered a word "r....d" which earned
him the wrath of the women. So furious were the women that they all gathered
around the table with the police trying to defuse the frayed tempers but not
until Mr Gonsalves apologsing for this unintended remark /
Inicidentally as the meeting proceeded until well past three it was suggested
to be adjourned bu surprisingly Mr Rajesh Naik the Secretary of the Panchayat
went away from the scene infuriating the villagers . They refused to
accept a delayed meet as the monsoons were expected and therefore in the
absence of any fixed date, the members decided to hold a public meeting
tommorrow evening at the same venue to decide the future course of action. Mr
Panndikar also distributed an undertaking dated 9.1.2006
A purported to be forged document issued by Goa Coastal Zone Management
Authority was circulated to the members present pertaining
to demarcation oif property No 44/2 of Sernabatim village issued on
24/03/2006 to Akai Creations Pvt Ltd Lake Plaza Opp Nehru
Stadium Fatorda
from the Colva end
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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