VILLAGE VOICE: Aldona Sarpanch Ashwin D’Souza listens to residents’ concerns and queries during the gram sabha meeting on Sunday.
MAPUSA
Aldona locals have drawn a line against high-density construction in the village, resolving to urge the authorities not to approve projects with a floor area ratio (FAR) exceeding 60 per cent.
The resolution was adopted at the village gram sabha on Sunday amid concerns over a construction project that has reportedly been granted approval with an FAR of around 185 per cent, raising questions about the village’s capacity to accommodate such development.
The issue was flagged by gram sabha member Vijaya Vernekar, who pointed out that the project was initially approved for ground plus two floors but was subsequently revised to permit a much higher FAR. She questioned the suitability of such intensive construction in Aldona, particularly given the narrow access road leading to the site.
Vernekar also sought to know whether the project had secured the requisite clearance from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, warning that access could become a major challenge in an emergency.
The proposed development also triggered concerns over the additional pressure it could place on the village’s sewage network, waste management system and existing infrastructure. Sarpanch Ashwin D’Souza said the panchayat would consult legal experts and explore possible measures, including stopping the construction work.
Rental properties under scrutiny
The gram sabha also turned its attention to the growing number of rented premises in the village, with residents questioning whether landlords were registering their properties with the panchayat and paying the applicable rent.
Concerns were raised over the use of residential premises for rental purposes, including properties accommodating pets, while vehicles parked along narrow village roads were also flagged as a problem.
D’Souza said some premises were reportedly being rented out for amounts ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, but the panchayat was not receiving the corresponding payments. He said the panchayat had written to the police seeking tenant verification details but was yet to receive the required information.
Attempts by the panchayat to initiate action against such properties had also run into legal objections, with landlords questioning their legal obligation to pay rent to the panchayat. The sarpanch appealed to residents renting out their properties to register the premises with the panchayat and comply with the applicable requirements.
The proposed restriction on swimming pools also figured prominently during the meeting. D’Souza said the panchayat had adopted a resolution seeking to restrict projects with swimming pools, but the decision was challenged before the Directorate of Panchayats and subsequently revoked. He said the panchayat was yet to receive a copy of the order.
Villagers, meanwhile, expressed concern that swimming pools in residential projects were being filled with water drawn from wells, potentially affecting groundwater availability and the water supply in the village.
Waste segregation still a challenge
The sarpanch said the panchayat had successfully implemented door-to-door garbage collection, but some residents continued to dispose of mixed wet and dry waste in open spaces.
He urged residents to segregate waste at source and cooperate with the panchayat to prevent indiscriminate dumping.
The gram sabha also approved 22 development works estimated to cost around Rs 77 lakh. The proposed works include road repairs and sewerage-related infrastructure improvements.
