MARGAO
If Aquem Baixo Panchayat members and residents blamed a Panchayat secretary with additional charge for giving a licence to the controversial lab, Panchayat members of Betalbatim village on Monday charged a temporary Panchayat secretary with issuing an occupancy certificate and trade licence to a business establishment by invoking the deeming provision.
In fact, a delegation of the Betalbatim Panchayat led by Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes, Deputy Sarpanch Ilma Dias and members called on the Salcete Block Development Officer to complain against the “temporary” Panchayat secretary for issuing an occupancy certificate and a trade licence to an establishment.
Deputy Sarpanch Ilma told the media that the Panchayat delegation had called on the Salcete BDO to draw her attention to the decision taken by the temporary Panchayat secretary by invoking the deeming provision. “This temporary Panchayat secretary issued the trade licence to an extended portion of a hotel under the deeming provision when the Panchayat had not even conducted an inspection. This is totally unacceptable and the decision needs to be reviewed immediately to restore the confidence of the people,” she said.
She added: “The Panchayat had called for an inspection, but the inspection could not take place due to the election code of conduct followed by the Christmas vacation. In the meantime, a Panchayat secretary, who held charge of Betalbatim for a day, issued the trade licence under the deeming provision.”
To a question, the Deputy Sarpanch said the Panchayat had objections to the occupancy certificate sought by the establishment owner over a host of reasons, including the laying of sewage pipes into paddy fields, construction in a CRZ area, etc.
