The functioning of the Benaulim panchayat seems to befluidic with the ruling group hell bent on setting the house in order torectify the financial mess of the previous body, under the chairmanship ofCarmelina Fernandes.
Former staff of the panchayat Avelina Coutinho submitted aquestion to the gram sabha after the constitution of the new panchayat bodywith Royla Fernandes as the sarpanch. Mrs. Coutinho question sought repliesfrom the panchayat as to when a five star hotel, owned by Triumph Developers,Delhi, submitted a reconstruction plan or revised plan to the panchayat andwhat the construction fees charged.
The sarpanch’s reply was as there is was no reconstructionlicenses sought, but a repair permission was sought by the company on November17, 2011 and the previous panchayat body forwarded the file to BlockDevelopment Officer (BDO) on the same day, which otherwise takes months. AfterBDO inspected the site, approval was finally forwarded to panchayat by BDO onJanuary 13, 2012, thereafter it was placed for panchayat meeting and permissionto carry out repairs was granted on February 18 by the panchayat.
Interesting the panchayat under former sarpanch charged onlyRs. 500 for a star hotel for repairs of an area of 7978.91sq mts. To charge such a meager amount for a starhotel that pays house tax to a tune of above Rs. 44,563 is absurd. Furthermoreshe informed that the structures at the hotel are ground plus one.
The current sarpanch further informed that panch memberXavier Pereira filed a complaint with the panchayat on June 21 stating majorreconstruction and excavation was being carried out at the TRPL and thereafterstop work notice was issued. However when the original construction projectfile was called for, it was missing from the panchayat office. The panchayatundertook a site inspection on July 13 with a qualified engineer appointed bythe panchayat. In his report, the sarpanch informed that there were no repairsbut a total reconstruction.
The sarpanch stated that after issuing a show cause noticeand receiving Triumph Developers’ reply the panchayat and gram sabha hasresolved to revoke permission granted by the early body and to seek legalassistance to get a stay order on the construction activity.
(The writer wishes to stay anonymous)
