Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The Gram Sabha of Poinguinim Village Panchayat discussed and deliberated over the MOEFCC Notification and made some brief observations at the Gram Sabha.
The Gram Sabha members noted that Poinguinim village is included in the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) of the Western Ghats in the draft Notification published by MOEF&CC. The Gram Sabha members also noted that 318 residents of the village had written to MOEF&CC to retain Poinguinim village in the Western Ghats ESA.
The members were notified that the draft ESA notification gave clear cut clarifications that all existing health care establishments will continue in ESArea and proposed Primary Health Centres established as per laws and regulations. Besides there is no restriction in change in ownership of property, and no restriction on repair or extension or renovation of existing residential houses in the ESA as per prevailing laws and regulations.
GS members took note that all the ESA notified villages, will have Agriculture, horticulture, plantations, forestry, animal husbandry, services, communications and other economic activities of the local communities, construction and repair of residential houses and other structures of people who are living in these villages, Transportation and movement by people and vehicles, Running of schools, educational institutions, hospitals and healthcare centres for local communities, and all other activities, except those specifically prohibited or restricted in the ESAs of the Western Ghats.
The GS also observed that the inclusion of a village in the ESA of Western Ghats implied that thermal power plants, red category polluting industries, mining and building projects larger than 20,000 sq meters would not be permitted. It was further understood that no projects would be permitted in a village within ESA of Western Ghats unless the Gram Sabha accepted the proposal. It was agreed that a majority of the villagers were in favour of the prohibitions, and also of the mandatory approval of the Gram Sabha. It was also observed that the restricted activities were only related to hydel power projects and orange/white category of polluting industries. It was therefore agreed by the Gram Sabha members that all the prohibitions and restrictions in the ESA Notification were beneficial to the local communities.
Therefore , the Gram Sabha of Poinguinim Village Panchayat unanimously resolved that Poinguinim village shall be retained in the ESA of the Western Ghats, and that
the VP shall write to the MOEF&CC, Chief Minister of Goa, Minister for Environment & Climate Change, Government of Goa, and Director of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Goa asking for implementation of this Gram Sabha resolution, and for inclusion of Poinguinim village in Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area, and that the Poinguinim VP shall proactively employ all legal means and methods to ensure the inclusion of Poinguinim village in the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area, including timely interventions in the courts up to the Supreme Court.
The Issue of Galgibaga river also came for hot discussion as one of the members inform that due to left-over construction materials in the river beds during two bridges construction (KRC Bridge and Galgibaga-Maxem bridge on Manohar Parrikar Canaocna Bypass road), the river flow is is further hindered by encroachments on river banks on both sides of Galgibaga river. Sarpanch informed that the panchayat is awaiting inspection report from BDO and only then suitable action will be initiated.
