Sunday, August 3, 2008

NUVEM VILLAGERS ..... in the news

Nuvem villagers demand special gram sabha
HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 29 – Nuvem villagers have demanded a special gram Sabha meeting as promised by the Sarpanch to discuss housing projects proposed in the village.
Gram sabha members had last month submitted a representation to the Sarpanch demanding the special gram sabha as promised at the meeting held on May 18 to discuss issues relating to construction (commercial-cum-residential as well as mega projects) in the village.
Based on the representation, the Salcete Block Development Officer, Uday Prabhudessai had also requested the Sarpanch to take immediate steps to hold the special gram Sabha at the earliest.
However, Nuvem Civic and Consumer Forum maintained that despite several representations, the Sarpanch has not only failed to hold the special gram sabha, but has also failed to hold the July gram sabha meeting.
Forum Convenor Olencio Fernandes said the NCCF had held ward-wise awareness meetings on irregular water supply, erratic electricity, garbage menace, effect of bore wells and mega constructions which if allowed will bring immense problems later on, such as increase in migrant population, reducing Goans to a minority in their village.
According to Fernandes, as many as 14 letters from different wards were addressed to the Sarpanch, demanding holding of the special gram sabha to discus the construction projects.
The Forum has warned that if the Sarpanch fails to announce the special gram sabha meeting within a week, necessary action will be taken by the people of Nuvem.

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Activists protest at Nuvem over delay in subway work
BY HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JUNE 20 – School children and civic and consumer rights activists took to the streets of Nuvem on Friday morning in protest against the inordinate delay in completion of the subway work.
Armed with placards and shouting slogans, the school children demanded the immediate completion of the water logged subway and posing danger to the school students and pedestrians.
That’s not all. The steel rods protruding from the subway is creating a nuisance for both pedestrians and motorists alike.
This morning, students of Holy Cross Convent came out on the street to protest against the inordinate delay in completing the work.
The school principal told newsmen that the school had lost a student two years ago and do not want to loose any more because of the incomplete subway.
She said the children are forced to agitate against the indifference attitude of the PWD department to expedite the subway work. “Are to going to wait for a tragedy to happen on the road. What would happen if a child falls into the waterlogged subway”, she questioned.
Maina Curtorim PI Dharmesh Angle later held discussions with the school Principal and assured to deploy a policemen at the site in the morning session. He, however, told the Principal to get the subway matter resolved at the government level.
When contacted, PWD Executive Engineer, Deshpande attributed the delay to the contractor abandoning the work.
Deshpande said the contractor has been asking for revised rates in view of the steep rise in prices of cement and steel. “We are in the process of terminating the contract and tender the work again”, he added.


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GOACAN’s awareness drive in Salcete
BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 31 – The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) week- long Citizens Awareness drive “Gramsabha Zagrut Za” to make democracy work for Goa and its environment will continue in Nuvem, Majorda and Colva.
On May 31, the Nuvem Civic and Consumer Forum organised ward-wise meetings from 5 pm at Anuz, Pateapur, Agalli and Baida vaddors to discuss the impacts of mega housing projects on the village and to mobilize peoples support for a special gram Sabha to deliberate on the various project files pending and those approved by the village panchayat of Nuvem.
As part of its awareness drive, the Majorda-Utorda-Calata residents and consumer forum in collaboration with GOACAN is organizing a poster exhibition from 9.30 am onwards and a public meeting at 10.30 am at the St Anthony’s high school hall, Majorda.
The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum in collaboration with GOACAN will organise a poster exhibition from 4 pm onwards and a public meeting at 5.50 pm at Our Lady of Merces Church hall, Colva on June 1.
The poster exhibition and public meeting seeks to provide information to citizens so that they participate in the eight village gramsabhas, attend the fortnightly Panchayat meetings, volunteer in various Panchayat committees, scrutinize the budget & audit report and use the Right to Information Act.
The meeting will also highlight issues affecting the villages like changing land use and mega housing projects, need for a village development plan and the formation of the ward development committees and local initiatives to protect the environment.

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