PANAJI
Benaulim MLA Caetano Silva alleged corruption in the Town and Country Planning Department’s move to first grant permission to the controversial Raheja project in Carmona and then refuse to revoke the licence.
Raising the issue through a calling attention motion, Silva alleged that the project was given a licence arbitrarily, besides being against the wishes of the people.
“How did the project get passed? The Town and Country Planning Department issued a circular saying that if the bottleneck was 75 metres the project could be allowed. Why 75 metres? Is it because the bottleneck in Carmona is 75 metres? Why not 50 metres? why not 100 metres?” Silva alleged.
He demanded an assurance from the Town and Country Planning Minister, Francisco D’Souza that he would revoke the licence of the project.
Also supporting Caetano Silva was Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Lourenço who said, the fact that the government has not revoked the licence, meant that they too were involved in corruption.
“You allege that the previous government had granted permission. What has the current government done about it?” Lourenço said adding that views of the people should be respected.
“It is a project of 88 bungalows. The area does not get proper water and electricity supply. How will they get water for five swimming pools?” Lourenço asked.
In response, D’Souza said he would not give any assurance that the licence of the project would be revoked.
“Even the project proponents have rights. They have got a licence from the panchayat, which is an elected body as well as the licence from the TCP, which is according to order,” he said.
“The government had received representation from the villagers of Carmona under the banner of Carmona Villagers Social Welfare Forum. The main contention of the villagers is about the accessibility conditions of the property under reference for sustaining the project of such magnitude,” D’Souza said.“The government is presently seized with the matter and studying about the apprehensions raised by the people and a decision will be taken shortly. The government will focus on improvement of infrastructural facilities,” he added.
