MARGAO: The Velim gram sabha, held on Sunday took a unanimous resolution to oppose the land acquisition process, meant for the purpose of setting up a ‘fish mill’ at Kutbona, thus putting the department of fisheries in a tight spot.

The argument opposing the land acquisition was so strong that all the nine elected members of the panchayat, along with a hall full of members attending the meeting, discussed at length the environmental impact and damage that could be caused, not only to the village of Velim, but also to the neighbouring villages such as Ambelim, Assolna and Betul. The point that all the these villages, along with Velim would suffer a lot of ecological and environmental damage, was strongly made. Not only this, but the sarpanch and the elected panch members gave each and every individual member of the gram sabha to stand up and make their point and have their say in the matter. Each and every member at the gram sabha opposed the land acquisition proposal.
All the nine members of the Velim panchayat, headed by the sarpanch, Ms Rennie Caiero, had their say and stated that they are opposed to the land acquisition proceedings for the fish mill project. Each of them in turn stated that they are convinced by the arguments put forth by the villagers regarding the environmental damage and the health problems the project would cause, if it became a reality.
A resolution was also adopted that the villagers, along with all the panchas would hold a ‘dharna’ on September, in front of the panchayat, wherein the Minister for Fisheries, Mr Joaquim Alemao, the Minister for Water Resources, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who is also the local MLA, the land acquisition officers and other department officials concerned would be called to meet and interact with the villagers and to hold deliberations as to why the villagers do not want such a project in the village.
Sources disclosed that around 30,000 sq mt prime land, consisting of cultivable fields are likely to be acquired from this fertile village for the purpose of having a fish mill. The gram sabha members also sent out a cautioned to the Minister for Fisheries, that he should tread cautiously in this matter and should not annoy the villagers beyond their limit.
The sarpanch, Ms Rennie Caiero, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ disclosed that the major part of the proceedings on Sunday were directed towards this issue. She also informed that a gram sabha resolution was taken, urging the government to drop the land acquisition process immediately.
She disclosed that the villagers had given August 15 as the last date to drop the land acquisition proceedings, and reiterated that the villagers are willing to fight tooth and nail to see that the project does not come up in their village. She also disclosed that she has the support of the neighbouring villages of Ambelim, Betul and Assolna in this respect.
She said the villagers want the concerned parties to attend the dharna on September 1, to know for themselves how annoyed the villagers are over this issue. She said letters in this respect would be written on Monday itself, to the concerned authorities, and public announcements made so that the villagers can come and give their point of view.
Other issues discussed were regarding the repair of the four sluice gates in the village. The sarpanch disclosed that in this connection she has written to the PWD and Water Resources Department, as well as the communidade, adding further that the government departments have written to her that the duty of repairing the sluice gates is that of the communidade, and that she would write to the communidade again shortly.