Goans are showing that they are serious about preserving the beauty of Green Goa.
The Chief Minister of Goa says it’s too expensive to set up a bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), but grassroots Goans have decided not to give up the fight for their beloved Goa. They are making a small start, with catching litterbugs.
On Oct 22, the Greenpeace Ship – Rainbow Warrior III was scheduled to dock off the course of Sinquirem, and about 25 Goan groups fighting environmental destruction were ready to present their projects to the Rainbow Warriors.
Now there is news that this kind of movement is gaining power, even at the grassroots level. The village of Camurlim, in Salcette, is one such example. Yesterday, the Gram Sabha Members of the Camurlim Village Panchayat announced a fine of Rs 5,000/- on those found littering the village. They also announced a reward of Rs 1000/- to those who catch and photograph the violators. Violators beware! The next time you are in Camurlim and feel the itch to chuck your beer bottle or beer can outside your window with casual nonchalance, you might be in for a rude shock. These villages are tired of the litterbugs. They mean business. They truly love the scenic beauty of Camurlim and have decided to do whatever is in their power to protect the village they love.
The village Sarpanch – Basilo Xavier Fernandes (cell no: 9822163849) and his deputy Felicidade Menino Joao Antao (Tel no: 2777795) are serious about their job. (Phone numbers from http://panchayatsgoa.gov.in)
The villagers also posed serious questions about how a mobile tower at Dollavaddo came up overnight, without the panchayat’s permission. They even pasted a show cause notice on the tower demanding the documents be produced.
They gharoed the local PWD official
Believe it or not, they even gharoed the PWD official regarding the bad roads. On Monday, around 70 villagers and the panchayat members gheraoed Mr. Ratnakaran Challan (the PWD executive engineer (roads)). They demanded immediate repair of the Uzro-Sanfator road stretch along the Margao-Ponda highway. Sarpanch of Loutolim Inacinho Fernandes and former sarpanch of Rachol Joseph Vaz were amongst the protesters. It may be recalled that several accidents have occurred on the said road stretch with some fatalities.
Information source: TOI Goa, Navhind Times
