Picnics draw ire at Sal - Herald

Picnics draw ire at Sal April 12, 2013 TEAM HERALD bureau@herald-goa.com BICHOLIM: Picnickers to Sal-Bicholim may have to find another destination as the village panchayat is likely to restrict their entry near the small bandhara on the Chapora River. It may be recalled that a place in Sal had become a popular bathing area and several locals used to enjoy their weekend. People not only from North Goa but also from South Goa visited the place with their families. “The place has become very popular since the last two years and on Sundays there is lot of rush near the small bandhara. Most of the families come in the morning and spend their entire day,” a local told Herald. Recently, the place became popular after inauguration of the light motor vehicle bridge over the bandhara that connects Sal to Ibrampur-Pernem. But with the popularity what followed was something which the villagers did not find safe for their small village. “People come here and dirty the area, dump waste including food, empty bottles,” said Deelip Desai. “Not just this but the real problem arises when one group starts commenting on girls from the other group and it leads to a fight,” he added. In view of this, villagers have decided that the best way to avoid all these problems is to restrict their entry to the spot. “The panchayat has already received a letter from the owner of the place that people dirty the area and he wants action,” Sal Sarpanch Ghanasham Raut told Herald. “He has also submitted a letter to Bicholim Police and other government departments to look into the matter and take necessary action,” added Raut. “The issue will come up in the Gram Sabha on Sunday and we will decide the future course of action. If the owner and villagers have any objection, then we will have to take action and may have to restrict the area for picnickers,” added Raut. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Picnics-draw-ire-at-Sal/73107.html