The Managing Committee of the Saligao Communidade has decided to convene an Emergency Meeting of the Gaunkars of Saligao Communidade on 1st September 2013 to deliberate on this issue.
All gaunkars should attend this meeting without fail and voice their opinion. Regards, Joaquim Vaz ________________________________ From: Dean D'Cruz <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 20 August 2013 10:22 AM Subject: Re: [SALIGAONET] Re: Govt. To Acquire Land On Saligao-Calangute Hill Dear Saligaoncars, I had filed the complaint with the pollution control department against the Calangute Panchayat about 6 months ago and while I have been attending a number of hearings the Pollution control board has been soft peddling the issue. The thought of having a treatment plant no matter how technologically sound it may be is scary. We have no systems in place for pre sorting garbage and like Sonsoddo, will become another scam at the cost of the villages around. Even if the plant does come up through the seemingly forceful and arm twisting methods that the Government is using the access road must be from Calangute as already indicated in the RP 2021. The virtual bribing of Parrikar for a visit to see the German plant is quite unnecessary. If the proposed plant is truly hi tech and pollution free it should occupy a small footprint and could be placed in the centre of the tourist district to avoid smelly trucks driving all over. The reason I believe for choosing an isolated spot is to hide the mess. We need to discuss this issue urgently to take a final decision. Kind regards Dean On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 11:45 PM, muriel&mario <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Saligaokaram, > >Led by the Saligao Citizens Forum (SCF), 38 citizens gathered last evening, to >find out if anyone had any details about the Garbage Treatment Plant (GTP) on >our hill and the land acquisition ordered for it. > >The gathering was a healthy cross section of the village and cut across party >lines, socio-economic status and religious affiliations. It included 3 panch >members representing the vaddos that are immediately impacted by the present >dump and proposed GTP, namely Sonarbhatt, Arrarim, Salmona, Abreuvaddo and >Nigvaddo. > >2 members of the Pilerne Citizens Forum were also present. > >As expected, no one had any more information, than what appeared in the media. > > >"We neither oppose nor support the proposed GTP. We are here only to find out >more about it", was the stand of the SCF, repeatedly emphasised during the >proceedings. > >Besides many other concerns, the repeated and unanimous observation of the >gathering was: > >"Our own Sarpanch, our very own President of the Communidade and our MLA who >resides here itself, in Saligao, in our very midst, none of them even thought >of getting back to us, their electorate, their 'gaunkars', their own people, >before agreeing to the GTP; before supporting the 'orders' of the Chief >Minister for Land Acquisition; before readily agreeing to jump on a plane to >Germany to see the GTP there; before collaborating with Calangute's elected >representatives and various government officials to meekly surrender our hill >to a project they know nothing about." > >The gathering was very astonished and felt utterly betrayed that our 3 elected >representatives could, in some government office, agree to install a massive, >Rs. 100 crore project on our very heads, involving unknown, imported >technology without making any move to consult their people back in the village. > >"Why did Austy, Eknath and Dilip not tell us that they were summoned for such >a meeting? And why did they agree to and even make supporting suggestions at >that meeting, before they reported to and consulted us?" These and similar >questions were repeated over and over during the short deliberations. > > >"We have a right to know," was the common refrain. > > >Accordingly, the gathering has decided to ask the concerned authorities to >tell the villagers of both Saligao and Pilerne about the project, its present >and future management and the technology involved. Since Pilerne also suffers >from the present garbage dump and will be affected by the negative impact, if >any, of the proposed GTP, the 2 villages have decided to network and >collaborate on this issue. > >Our observation: Instead of first taking the village into confidence, a >procedural lapse has been made by informing Saligaokars about the GTP through >the electronic and print media. We all make mistakes, sometimes without >wanting to make them, because we get caught off guard. But we can rectify >mistakes with genuine, damage control measures. > >Our appeal: "Eknath, Dilip and Austy, please call for a public meeting in the >Panchayat Hall and talk to your people. It is not too late. It is the least >you can do before any needless, negative sentiment builds up against a safe >GTP that is the need of the hour." > >Warm regards and solidarity. > >M&M. > > > > > >On 18 August 2013 03:34, muriel&mario <[email protected]> wrote: > >Dear Saligaokaram, >> >>From 1987, when the indiscriminate dumping of garbage began on our Saligao >>hill, the erstwhile Saligao Nagrik Kriti Samiti (SNKS) made the following >>demands to successive Panchayat bodies (including the Calangute Panchayat), >>MLAs, Deputy Chief Ministers and Chief Ministers (including Dr. Willy and >>Manohar Parrikr...both of whom are reading this message!): >> >>- Implement the Solid Waste Management Rules-2000. Right now, the Calangute >>panchayat managing the dump, is in violation of these very Rules, as well as >>in violation of a High Court Order passed as a result of a joint petition by >>the Saligao Civic & Consumer Cell and the Goa Foundation. The court order >>had made these rules applicable to this dump, even though they mention only >>municipalities. >> >>- Shift the dump and/ or the Garbage Treatment Plant, 2 kms mainly to the >>west but also a little to the south, somewhere behind the Calangute Police >>Station. >> >>This will ensure that the dump and/ or plant will be away from all human >>habitation. As always, projects with potential danger to people's health and >>lives, as well as with a definite danger to an eco-sensitive zone, should be >>installed as far away as possible. The present site is in an extremely >>fragile, eco-sensitive zone, as the hill that houses it, is home to laterite >>aquifers that feed the water tables of Saligao, Pilerne and Candolim. >> >>Example: the Salmona Spring, directly in line with the dump, has been >>certified unfit for human consumption, by the Pollution Control Board. >> >>There is no sensible option, but to shift to the dump/ plant to a safer >>location. >> >>- Build a dedicated road, west of Mother Mary Haven (Home For The Aged), to >>the plant...before land acquisition. >> >> Since this is the proposed Garbage Treatment Plant for the whole of North >>Goa (not just for the coastal villages, as was mistakenly stated), there will >>be a constant flow of garbage trucks, 24x7, from all the 209 villages in >>North Goa. This overload of continuous garbage traffic, cannot be routed >>through the heart of any village. >> >>Ashley has already mentioned that a separate road is proposed in the RP21. >> >>- Take local Saligaokars into confidence. This is Panchayati Raj, not Panaji >>Raj! >> >>Local Saligaokars should decide the kind of development we want in our >>village. Citizens cannot allow secretive decisions, taken behind closed >>doors, in some dark corridor of power in Panjim, to be dumped on us, as if we >>did not exist. Complete transparency on the technology and the project is >>the most fundamental courtesy any state or local-self-government can extend >>to its citizenry. >> >>Again, as Ashley has rightly suggested, let a local citizen's committee study >>the project with its own experts to advise us on the feasibility of the >>project, in its entirety. Saligao has the wherewithal to do this. Let the >>details of the plant be explained in vaddo meetings and then discussed in one >>or more Gram Sabhas. >> >>Instead of the Saligao Panchayat, Communidade, MLA and the Chief Minister >>deciding on the project and even ordering land acquisition proceedings, this >>is what they should have said to each other and to the Calangute MLA at their >>joint meeting: >> >>"Hey, wait a minute guys! We cannot take such important decisions just >>amongst ourselves. We have an electorate to consult. We have our village >>brothers and sisters to take into confidence. So, before we go to the Press, >>or start land acquisition proceedings, let us call for village meetings, >>discuss things with them, truthfully lay bare every bit of the technology, do >>our best to convince them and then let them, the villagers decide if they >>want the plant, and where they want it." >> >>It is a sad commentary on the state of Saligao's grassroots democracy, as >>enshrined in the Panchayati Raj Act, that none of these elected >>representatives, came back to the people to either report or take them into >>confidence...at least, not yet! >> >>- Along with the local citizens' committee, do an Environment Impact >>Assessment (EIA) and submit the report to the villagers. This is a must, >>because we are dealing with garbage treatment, a process with many potential >>dangers. >> >> >>For instance, is there effluent/ leachate from the plant and where does it >>go? >> >>Example: there is a lethal, toxic soup, bubbling merrily in that enormous >>cauldron - the laterite quarry that contains unsorted, putrefying >>garbage-cum-rain-water at the present dump on the hill. This deadly marinate >>is right now, percolating through the aquifers in our laterite hills and >>poisoning our springs and wells in Arrarim, Nigvaddo, Abreuvaddo and Salmona. >> >> >>Will the plant's leachate, if any, follow this precedent? >> >> >> >>And what of gaseous emissions? >> >>There may not be chimneys billowing thick, visible, polluting smoke into >>Saligao, like we have in the Pilerne industrial estate next door. But will >>there be colourless, odourless, yet dangerous emissions from the plant, >>wafting their polluting way down our gentle hill-slopes into the village? >> >> >>Only an EIA, done by a joint team of villagers and experts can answer such >>questions. >> >> >>- Lastly, obey the High Court Order and return the present dump site to its >>original, pristine state: laterite quarry, tree cover and all. >> >> >>So, are we against the aforementioned Garbage Treatment Plant? Definitely >>not! >> >>North Goa most certainly needs such a plant...fast...even if it is entirely >>on Saligao land. We are willing to take the risk of suggesting such a >>sacrifice, but, but, but...before any land acquisition proceedings: >> >> >>1. Let the state and local-self-government, truthfully and transparently, >>take the trouble to explain the technology and the entire project to >>Saligaokars. >> >>2. Conduct a joint Environmenal Impact Assessment, along with local citizens. >> >>3. Based on these two steps, let local villagers decide the kind of >>development they want in their habitat and where they want it. Let >>grassroots democracy prevail. >> >>4. Shift the dump/ plant to somewhere behind the Calangute Police Station or >>any other convenient location - entirely on Saligao land may be - but well >>away from all residential areas. >> >>5. Construct a dedicated road to the site, before land acquisition >>proceedings. >> >>6. Obey the High Court order and follow the Solid Waste Management Rules, >>2000 and any relevant laws applicable. >> >>7. Obey the same order and return the present dump site to its original >>state. >> >> >>These are our personal suggestions. >> >> >> >>Warm regards and solidarity. >> >> >>M&M. >> >> >> >> >> >>On 17 August 2013 16:43, muriel&mario <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>M-m-m-m...something to think about. >>> >>> >>>Note the misleading location: "Saligao-Calangute hill...", when in reality, >>>the site is right on top of the whole vaddo of Salmona, Abreu Vaddo, >>>Nigvaddo and parts of Arrarim. Part of the land may be on the common >>>boundary that Saligao shares with Calangute, but it is miles away from >>>Calangute village, while sitting right on top of densely populated vaddos >>>ofSaligao. >>> >>> >>>Climb up to that site from anywhere inthe village and you will observe: >>>those are Saligao hills. Period. Just an observation. >>> >>> >>> >>>Watch this space for similar observations and alternatives... >>>---------------------------------------------- >>> >>>From the Times of India >>> >>> >>>TNNAug 14, 2013, 04.52AM IST >>> >>>PANAJI: Chief minister ManoharParrikar on Tuesday directed the department of >>>science, technology and environment to initiate land acquisition proceedings >>>for about 93,978 square metres land on the Saligao-Calangute hill, where a >>>garbage treatment plant for North Goa coastal villages is planned. >>> >>>Speaking at a joint meeting of stakeholders in the secretariat on Tuesday, >>>which was attened by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Saligao MLA Dilip >>>Parulekar along with representatives of both comunidades and village >>>panchayats, Parrikar directed the Goa state infrastructure development >>>corporation (GSIDC) to draw up specifications for the proposed garbage >>>treatment plant and invite tenders from interested parties. High level >>>officials from GSIDC, DSTE and other departments also attended the meeting. >>> >>>The government proposes to acquire 29,178 square metres land of Saligao >>>comunidade and 64,800 square metres of Calangute communidade which adds upto >>>93,978 square metres. "The government will formally write to the comunidades >>>soon," Lobo said. >>> >>>While both MLAs agreed in principle to the land acquisition, they had some >>>pre-conditions. Calangute comunidade attorney Anthony D'Souza said the >>>Calangute comunidade has requested the government for detailed plans of the >>>precise area of land desired and what technology will be used. "These >>>details will be scrutinized by the communidade before arriving at a >>>decision," D'Souza said. >>> >>>Saligao comunidade attorney Austin Gama echoed in agreement to the proposal >>>subject to the government fulfilling some conditions prescribed by the >>>general body. Gama said that one demand is to realign the approach road in >>>Saligao to the garbage disposal site. Sources said that the government >>>surveyors will go to the site on Wednesday itself to begin the process for >>>the road realignment. >>> >>>Sources said that the comunidades and village Panchayats of both the >>>villages, along with the MLAs of both constituencies, have demanded to be on >>>the monitoring committee that will oversee the project from beginning to >>>end. The department of science, technology and environment will appoint a >>>land acquisition officer shortly to acquire the land on an emergency basis >>>by invoking Sections 4 and 17 simultaneously. >>> >>>(ends) >>> >>>Read the original report here: >>> >>> >>>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Govt-to-acquire-land-on-Saligao-Calangute-hill/articleshow/21814954.cms >>> >>> >>> >>>Warm regards and solidarity. >>> >>> >>>M&M. >>> >>>-- >>> >> >>-- >>................................................................ >>there *is* anOTHERgoa >>at <http://www.anOTHERgoa.blogspot.in> >>& <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> >>''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' >>muriel & mario, >>c/o FULKAR, >>6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. >>bardez. goa. 403511. >>tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 >><anothergoa AT gmail.com> >>'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' >> > > >-- >................................................................ >there *is* anOTHERgoa >at <http://www.anOTHERgoa.blogspot.in> >& <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> >''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' >muriel & mario, >c/o FULKAR, >6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. >bardez. goa. 403511. >tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 ><anothergoa AT gmail.com> >'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' > > -- >-- >Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net >To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >To unsubscribe email [email protected] > >--- >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >"Saligao-Net" group. >To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >email to [email protected]. >For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
