Colva Gram Sabha (25 May)

COLVA GRAM SABHA TURNS TABLES AGAINST PANCHAS
A report by Godfrey Gonsalves
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 (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 Akar Creations Pvt Ltd Fatorda, 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.
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 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 but 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 24/03/06 to Akar Creations Pvt Ltd Lake Plaza, Opp Nehru Stadium Fatorda from the Colva end.