Panaji: The issues of extensive flooding of paddy fields in Dongorim due to an open sluice gate of Damda khazan, along with TCP’s approval for the conversion of 72,000sqm of village land, dominated the Azossim-Mandur panchayat gram sabha on Sunday.In a meeting chaired by sarpanch Prashant Naik, member Satish Naik alleged that the fields remained flooded while the mamlatdar had ordered repairs of the damaged sluice gate.A few weeks ago, the saline water flooded fields near houses in Dongorim and with the sluice gate missing its doors, villagers suspected sabotage.Though temporary planks have been erected to block the flow, the fields are still underwater.The sarpanch said that the panchayat would also write to the authorities concerned regarding the matter.Regarding TCP’s approval to convert 72,000sqm of land into a green area in the village, the sarpanch said the panchayat will write to the department opposing any land-use change.The land has an illegal structure, which has been the subject of heated debate in recent meetings.At a meeting in Nov last year, members discussed the demolition notice issued by the panchayat after member Ramrao Wagh filed a complaint about the structure.The members were apprehensive that any conversion of this land would bring pressure on the adjoining hilly and forested areas.
