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Saligao rejects RP2021 -- convener assaulted as opposition mounts.
The Saligao Gram sabha was a massive turnout the most ever seen with 504
members having signed the register and no pages left to sign. A laptop
with LCD was used to explain the plan and the changes. In the start
panch Eknath Oraskar tried to explain that the plan notified by the TCP
was a different plan to what was submitted by the Village level
committee, but was shouted down by the members who wanted the sarpanch
to speak and tell the people who had done the changes. The reply given
by the panchayat was that it was the government who had done the same.
Mr Austin Da Gama a a member of the VLC , explained that the wide roads
were of no benefit to people and it was also not technically feasible.
"how can a 25 meter road come up in an area where only 6 meter asphalt
road sits lined with houses who have their windows opening onto the
road?" he said.
He then proposed a resolution which was unanimously accepted by the
gathering as below
The resolution reads such "The Gram Sabha meeting held on 20^th Nov 2011
in the Village Panchayat Hall with 504 members present unanimously
adopted to reject the latest Govt notified regional Plan placed before
the Gram Sabha members, as it is not according to the proposals of the
Village Regional plan Committee and the Village Panchayat. Accordingly
another extraordinary Gram Sabha meeting has been called by the Village
Panchayat Sarpanch and the gram sabha members present on 27^th Nov 2011
at 10:30 am.
In the interim period, members of the village are requested to inspect
the original regional plan and suggest necessary corrections to be made
in the village plan."
Noisy scenes prevailed soon after this as the villages sort to know why
the panchayat was asking for a new plan to be displayed the next meeting
with the "changes". What are these changes questioned a villager Mrs
Celia ribeiro.
Convener Ashley Delaney who had remained largely quite and seated all
the while showing the planon the laptop, than finally took the mike and
with the help of the LCD explained the differences in the submitted plan
as against the notified plan. Using a digital image -- he showed a super
imposed overlay of the draft plan against the notified one and
highlighted the changes marked in yellow on the overlayed plan. The
changes have already been submitted in a letter by the him on behalf of
Village level committee to the panchayat he said..
We propose that Status Quo be maintained on all the roads and that the
roads be broadened to their proposed widths as shown in the plan as
submitted by the Village committee ONLY where technically feasible
without demolishing any houses he said. This was unanimously accepted.
he went on to explain that the only thing they were in agreement with
was the shifting of the garbage site to the top of the hill hidden away
from view, however he questioned the need for 2 garbage sites proposed
in the plan, "The proposed playground which was shifted to the top of
the hill is half the area than what had been proposed in the middle of
the village in a field area which the whole Gram sabha along with the
panchayat body has asked for" he said. Mrs Alzira a villager said that
no old lady and children wanted to climb the hills every time they
wanted to watch a football game.
Delaney then pointing out that over 26 fields had been converted marked
in plain sight for everyone to see, as well as several large tracts of
private hilly area, asked the villages if they wanted to see their
fields and hills shown as settlements. A resounding NO was heard as
villages jumped to make their voice heard.
At this point, certain members of the seated gram sabha jumped to their
feet protesting that some fields were shown as settlement in the DRP
submitted and that it should stay that way. Sarpanch Lucas remedious
also rose to his feet and snatched the mike away from Delaneys hands and
asked him to sit down. At this point of time, one Gurudas Naik and his
brother attempted to punch and physically assault Delaney. Who ducked
and jumped out of the way. In the process an old lady villager who was
seated nearby "Mary Coutinho" was pushed. At this many people jumped in
and held of the attackers, with some ladies forming a line around Ashley
to protect him from the punch s thrown by the attackers. The police were
quickly called in by a reporter who sensed the mood of the crowd, amidst
much shouting and protesting by the panchayat along with Mr gurudas Naik
and his brother satish naik who did not want Ashley to speak.
With no proper decorum, the gram sabha quickly dissolved and amidst the
commotion, Delaney was escorted out by the irate villagers who vowed to
fight against corruption and throw out elected representatives who were
trying to destroy their village. "They are targeting Ashley because he
is standing for the truth and will not bow down to their illegal
demands" said Vivian Fernandes Secretary of the Saligao Citizens forum.
"The Govt has said that they have protected the hills. But why in
saligao the hills of private parties who are making a noise today are
shown as settlements? These were not proposed by the VLC!" questioned
Dominic Fernandes from the Saligao Citizens forum.
Delaney later filed an FIR against the brothers for attempted assault at
the calangute Police station. He also slammed the panchayat for not
asking police protection for the gramsabha, inspite of a letter being
given in to them requesting the same. It may be recalled that at the
time of the DRP being approved by the gramsabha 2 years ago, The same
duo had attempted to assault Delaney who was saved by an old man who
flung himself in front of the attackers who attempted to break his leg.
--
Kind regards
Ashley Delaney
Group TenPlus
Keep Goa E-waste free!! contact us now to know what YOU can do!
www.grouptenplus.com
Abreovaddo, Saligao, Bardez, Goa.
Ph: 9823118321 / 9325064278
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