Official says local body must float tender
A delegation of Varca citizens called on Salcete BDO Nimisha Faldesai on the villagers’ demand for a study on carrying capacity.
MARGAO
In an interesting development, Salcete Block Development Officer Nimisha Faldesai has told a delegation of Varca citizens that it is purely for the village Panchayat to float a tender or quotation to rope in an agency to conduct a study on the village’s carrying capacity.
The BDO further pointed out that the Panchayats should take note of the recent amendment wherein the time frame for approval of construction licences has been reduced to avoid the passage of plans under the deeming provision.
A delegation of citizens led by social activist Sohail Furtado called on the Salcete BDO to find out the status of the resolution adopted at the extraordinary gram sabha meeting of Varca panchayat in August last year, demanding a carrying capacity study and a ban on multi-dwelling units.
Sohail told the media after the meeting with the BDO that the Panchayat has not given effect to the carrying capacity study demand even after seven months since the gram sabha meeting held in August last year. “When we question the panchayat members, they push the blame on the BDO office. They also blame the BDO for granting approval for construction licences. But what we have found today is that the BDO office comes into play only if the Panchayat fails to take a call on the applications based on the recent amendment,” he said.
On carrying capacity, the BDO told the delegation that the Panchayat should move the BDO office seeking approval to invite tenders or quotations to appoint an agency to conduct the carrying capacity study.
The BDO later told the media that there are agencies willing to take up the carrying capacity study based on quotations. She, however, hastened to add that the local body has to appoint the bidder and send the file to the BDO office for approval. “If need be, the file will be sent to the Panchayat Director for approval,” she added.
