BENAULIM VILLAGERS’ ACTION COMMITTEE - (A PRESS NOTE)

BENAULIM VILLAGERS’ ACTION COMMITTEE

H. NO. 19, ADSURLIM, BENAULIM SALCETTE – GOA 403 716

8th December, 2010

Press Note

Banaulikars assert that the Benaulim Panchayat has failed not only on the garbage front but in the overall development of the village. BVAC challenges the Sarpanch to show even one single developmental activity being undertaken by the present dispensation headed by her during the last three years, despite their political mentor and the local MLA having been in the State Cabinet.

BVAC also welcomes her decision to file a police complaint. We want the truth to come out, and promise to assist the authorities to take the investigation to its logical conclusion; The village will benefit. BVAC reaffirms its commitment to the social and environmental cause.

Now to the issue in question:

The garbage collection drive in question was done on Sunday 5th November in broad daylight, both in the morning and evening. This exercise was witnessed and applauded not only by the villagers, but by the visiting tourists as well. We have the exercise captured on video footage. It was also witnessed by her Deputy and a few of her cronies.

BVAC will be more than willing to show from where the waste is coming from… if she pretends to be unaware of the same. We have already shown it to the Media. We would also remind her that the villagers, including Ciriaco Barretto have already got themselves into positive and practical mode instead of behaving like the proverbial ostrich. Regarding informing the Panchayat about the garbage lying around, she is advised to shed her ostrich mentality and go through the minutes of the Gram Sabha meetings, which she and her Deputy are conveniently avoiding. She is also advised to take legal recourse if she feels that the senior clerk and Panchayat secretary have provided false information under RTI Act.

The BVAC also wants the Sarpanch to show evidence of garbage being collected by the Village Panchayat since July 2009 by way of records, resolutions, appointments and payments made for the same. The Panchayat members, Secretary and the Panchayat staff have admitted and are on record to state that the waste collection has started only in August, 2010. BVAC would like to remind the Sarpanch that we have got video footage of the Gram Sabha held in June this year where she is on record to state that she and the Panchayat have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable person to collect the waste.

She is also advised to let the Banaulikars know as to what action she has taken regarding the illegal scrap yard being operated by the so-called Arjun Chawan in the village and through whom she is purportedly collecting and disposing off garbage. BVAC demands to know who has appointed Arjun Chawan and whether he is GSPCB approved recycler.

BVAC is not interested in getting personal with anyone nor believes in making issues out of nothing. If this was the intention, we would have exposed the person who defiled the Holy Cross by putting a garland which earlier adorned the necks of a couple on the occasion of their Silver Wedding celebrations recently and also throwing the bouquets in the lake behind the same cross.

Regarding her statement to induct Ciriaco Barreto and others in the garbage collection, Sunday’s drive was one of the initiatives to tackle the garbage menace seriously. BVAC would like to suggest that the Sarpanch instead of running away from the problem should confront the problem. BVAC would finally conclude with the advice to the Panchayat Body to sit across the table and discuss ways and means to find solutions instead of feeding lies to each and sundry.

Sd/-

Seby Fernandes

(Convenor)