Gaondongorim decision may have cascading effect

PANAJI: Gaondongorim gram sabha has taken an unusual decision, setting a precedent that can have far reaching implications.While gram sabhas elsewhere have been caught up with rejecting mega projects within their village boundaries, this Canacona village, weary of visitors creating a nuisance at the gushing Bhamanbuddo waterfall, recently decided to ban people from outside the village from picnicking there. Speaking to TOI sarpanch Umesh Velip said, "We have passed the resolution as the people were creating too much of a nuisance at the waterfall." And he is serious about acting on the resolution. "We will write to the mamlatdar, collector and police about the resolution taken and ask them to help us in stopping the people from coming to the waterfall," Velip added.There are two issues involved in the decision and panchayati raj votaries are divided over it, with some welcoming it and others advising caution in its implementation as such a precedent could restrict Goans from spending time in the few available picnic spots in the state."A panchayat is entrusted with the protection of its water sources and it can take action if there is public nuisance. It can restrain people from contaminating the water and in this case refuse to allow people to picnic there," Centre For Panchayati Raj coordinator Soter D'Souza said.Not all see it that way. "This is not a rational decision. Tomorrow the gram sabha may decide that nobody may be allowed to enter the village. In times to come all development in a village could be stalled," says former Goa assembly speaker Tomazinho Cardozo."There is already no place for picnickers in Goa. One panchayat takes a decision like this and if others follow, this could snowball. Stopping picnickers is not the solution. Control the garbage, reduce the nuisance is the solution," travel and tourism association of Goa spokesperson Ralph D'Souza said. He added that such a decision will not affect tourism, but local picnickers, especially schools on excursions.A further fear is that since Gaondongorim has set a precedent, what's to stop other panchayats from taking similar decisions.A circular from the education department advises schools not to take children to beaches for picnics. This leaves open only the hinterland for students on their annual day out. More decisions like the one taken by the Gaondongorim gram sabha could effectively end picnics in Goa, feel some.A solution to the this is offered by Ralph D'Souza who advises making such places plastic free and keeping bins for garbage.He says, "Ensure that every person uses the bin for disposing garbage. I know there are places where they check vehicles for plastic before they are allowed to enter a picnic site."It is, however, not just plastic that led Gaondongorim villagers to take the decision. Drunken brawls and vulgar behavior were among the reasons.As Velip says "We don't want any income or to earn any profit from the waterfall, but the village reputation was also getting spoilt."Further defending the decision, Soter D'Souza says, "They don't want people to picnic there as it disturbs the village and has an impact on other activities of the village. To maintain peace and avoid nuisance they can do it. It is fine if it is in the interests on the people."But should gram sabhas be allowed to take final decisions? Cardozo. "The gram sabha should be an advisory body as it was in the past. Having such powers is not advisable. The decisions taken by a gram sabha should be to help the panchayat to take good decisions," Cardozo said. Section 4 of the Goa Panchayati Ray Act makes the decision of the gram sabha binding on the panchayat. As of now the Gaondongorim gram sabha decision to ban outsiders from enjoying at the Bhamanbuddo waterfall stands and with it the odds of other gram sabhas following suit.