Sanvordem gram sabha turns stormy over ore movement

Margao: The Sanvordem gram sabha on Sunday turned stormy over the issue of transportation of iron ore through 10-tyre trucks through the village on the grounds that the village roads were narrow and thus prone to accidents.

Villagers also pointed out that transportation of ore through 10-tyre trucks deprives the local truck owners of business. “99% of trucks owned by locals are six-wheeler ones. We don’t mind inter-state transportation through 10-tyre trucks, but when it comes to local transportation, local truck owners should get the business,” a villager said.

Gram sabha members demanded that the panchayat convene a meeting of transport contractors and local truck owners to thrash out the issue. A resolution to that effect was also passed by the gram sabha.

The issue of an illegal fish market near the Sanvordem bridge also came to the fore at the meeting with villagers.

Sarpanch Chinmayee Naik, briefing reporters on the issue, said that while the land in question belonged to PWD, fish vendors are largely locals and therefore the issue of their livelihoods also needs to be factored in.

She also said that the panchayat will take steps for setting up a proper fish market at an appropriate place.

The issue of garbage disposal was also passionately debated at the gram sabha. Naik said that the panchayat has undertaken the task of creating awareness about garbage management in the village.