To,
The Editor
Herald
Panjim
Goa
Dear Sir,
Subject : Calangute panchayat and neighbouing villages
This is with reference to the newsitem in Herald dated 2nd March titled "
Calangute Panchayat the richest in Goa " . Firstly let me congratulate Mr.
Joseph Sequeira our dynamic sarpanch for the developments he and his
panchmembers have undertaken in Calangute . The most significant development
is the Poriat football ground the villagers can be proud of and of course
his excellent garbage disposal scheme his panchayat undertakes tirelessly
everyday .
Though I now am a resident of Calangute for over 15years my ancestral
village is neighbouring Saligao and whenever I visit my relatives there they
have a lot to complain about the garbage dumping that takes place daily at
the hill ontop of their village . Incidentally the area where the garbage is
dumped lies in Calangute jurisdiction but the percolation and pollution is
borne unfortunately by the Saligao villagers. The air and water pollution
especially during the monsoons can be felt in those areas of Saligao that
lie at the foot of the plateau where the garbage is dumped .
If the Calangute Panchayat is earning an average revenue of 3 crores I think
it is time that they also solve the problems of the neighbouring villages .
Saligao is begining to face a massive problem of garbage from within the
village itself and lack of funds limits the ability of the Saligao Panchayat
to address this problem. I would like to request Mr. Joseph Sequeira to look
into the matter and atleast help the village of Saligao tide over its
garbage problem . Maybe he can have the garbage van collect garbage from
Saligao atleast twicce a week . For this the Saligaokars can coordinate with
him to ascertain certain pickup points.
Benefits should percolate to neighbouring villages as well ,as
infrastructure for tourism is also provided by other villages for example
there is a new road being proposed via Saligao hill to tide over the traffic
congestion due to increase in tourist traffic.
If not I request the Government authorities to try and merge the above two
panchayats along with one or two more affected villages to give them a
municipality status where the development can be broadbased benefitting all
villages.
I think it is high time the above affected villages come together on the
above urgent matter.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
*Col. Cyril P. D'Souza ( Retd.)*
#401 KHH Phase 11
Gauravaddo
Calangute
Goa
Tel.: 0832- 2282881
