MAPUSA: A hotel project close to a rivulet became a hot topic of discussion at Assonora gram sabha with members questioning the panchayat's decision to grant permission to the project without studying its impact on the rivulet and the village.
A local, Ashok Benaulikar said licence was issued to a resort in a hurry without taking the villagers into confidence.
He said the construction was going on at a fast pace and there was no hygiene maintained at the construction site.
"Once ready, the hotel may release its sewage water in the rivulet, putting life of people in North Goa at great risk as the Assonora Treatment Plant is housed upstream," said Benaulikar.
Responding on the issue, Sarpanch, Pravin Bugde said the resort has obtained permissions from all other departments.
"The hotel will build a sewerage plant inside its campus which will treat its sewage water," Bugde said. Benaulikar said: "What guarantee is there that the hoteliers will not release its sewage in the rivulet?"
Another local suggested that hotel owners should be asked to provide a presentation of the whole project in the panchayat office or else its licence should be revoked.
Placing a proposal for re-assessment of house tax before the gram sabha, the sarpanch requested the members to discuss on the issue.
A local, Shekhar Shirgaonkar said the panchayat was imposing a hike on people who religiously pay house tax.
"What about those people who are staying illegally? Who will tax them," Shirgaonkar questioned.
The sarpanch said it was for the government to decide whether to tax such people or not.
Later, the gram sabha decided to hike the house tax by 8 percent.
The panchayat also decided to write to the Directorate of Panchayat for grant of special funds to tackle village garbage.
A local, Ashok Benaulikar said licence was issued to a resort in a hurry without taking the villagers into confidence.
He said the construction was going on at a fast pace and there was no hygiene maintained at the construction site.
"Once ready, the hotel may release its sewage water in the rivulet, putting life of people in North Goa at great risk as the Assonora Treatment Plant is housed upstream," said Benaulikar.
Responding on the issue, Sarpanch, Pravin Bugde said the resort has obtained permissions from all other departments.
"The hotel will build a sewerage plant inside its campus which will treat its sewage water," Bugde said. Benaulikar said: "What guarantee is there that the hoteliers will not release its sewage in the rivulet?"
Another local suggested that hotel owners should be asked to provide a presentation of the whole project in the panchayat office or else its licence should be revoked.
Placing a proposal for re-assessment of house tax before the gram sabha, the sarpanch requested the members to discuss on the issue.
A local, Shekhar Shirgaonkar said the panchayat was imposing a hike on people who religiously pay house tax.
"What about those people who are staying illegally? Who will tax them," Shirgaonkar questioned.
The sarpanch said it was for the government to decide whether to tax such people or not.
Later, the gram sabha decided to hike the house tax by 8 percent.
The panchayat also decided to write to the Directorate of Panchayat for grant of special funds to tackle village garbage.
