The gram sabha also adopted a resolution seeking action against landlords over tenant verification norm
Margao: Raia villagers on Sunday collectively recommended the utilisation of PWD land at Damon for installation of a mobile tower.
A discussion on the topic was held during the gram sabha where a villager Sleeton Fernandes suggested that the stated PWD land could be utilised for setting up a cell phone tower considering that it was away from the residential area.
The locals also urged the panchayat to get the mobile tower coming up on the panchayat ground relocated if it was feasible.
The gram sabha also adopted a resolution seeking stringent action against room owners if the tenant verification process was not adhered to. The gram sabha also resolved to step up CCTV surveillance for nabbing people who dump garbage along the roadsides.
Farmer Franky Fernandes demanded immediate inspection of the fields by sarpanch pointing out that water had been accumulated in the fields due to blocking of waterway.
Sarpanch Judas Quadros agreed to conduct an inspection within this week. It was also resolved to engage a private agency to handle e-waste generated in the village.
Meanwhile, MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco’s presence for the gram sabha took many by surprise.
“There was no special reason to attend the gram sabha. I attended it as a legislator for the first time. Wanted to see how a gram sabha is conducted in Raia,” Lourenco said, when this reporter asked him about the purpose of attending the meeting.
When asked whether he is going to attend gram sabhas of other panchayats of Curtorim constituency, Lourenco said he was ready to attend the gram sabhas and face the people.
“I have decided to attend the gram sabhas to understand the ground reality,” he maintained. In the meantime, with the tenant verification being an important norm, police officials created awareness on the need for furnishing details of tenants to the police during the gram sabha on Sunday.
PSI Chandrakant Velip cited a couple of incidents where the tenant verification had helped them in detecting crimes and making swift arrests.
He said, “Accused often take shelter in Goa after committing crimes in their natives places and work as labourers even though they are educated. The Goa police has created a website for tenant verification. The room owners can use this website and complete the verification process. It is very important to prevent and detect crimes.”
Speaking to this daily, PSI Velip said that landlords who rent out their rooms hesitate to carry out tenant verification formality for various reasons.
“The Maina-Curtorim police station has done 3,500 tenant verifications. In Raia village, we just had 702 verifications filed in 2022,” he stated.
PSI Velip urged the villagers to adhere to the verification norm for their own safety and safety of other people also.
“With the support of landowners and panchayat members, we can easily complete the tedious task of tenant verification,” he quipped.