MARGAO
Carmona panchayat’s claim over Zalor beach dominated the gram sabha proceedings of neighbouring Varca village panchayat on Sunday, with the gram sabha asserting there’s no beach by the name of Zalor in the area and the entire beach stretch lies in the jurisdiction of Varca village panchayat.
That’s not all. The Varca gram sabha adopted a resolution to write to all the authorities, including Tourism, TCP, Health, Electricity and Collector, not to consider any requests received from Carmona for any permission or NOCs concerning the beach stretch, on the ground that the beach belongs to Varca.
The issue dominated the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Shalini Pereira after members demanded to know why the police watch point which was scheduled to be inaugurated at 1st Fatrade ward was cancelled.
Outgoing Sarpanch Roland Martins, who also represented the 1st Fatrade ward, explained to the members that the watch point was not inaugurated following a row kicked up by Carmona panchayat over the jurisdiction of the beach stretch.
Armed with maps and documents, Roland further explained to the members that Carmona has no beach stretch and pooh poohed the claims by the Carmona Panchayat over the beach that rightfully belongs to Varca panchayat. He said the survey plans and other land records clearly point out that the 1st Fatrade beach is located in the jurisdiction of Varca panchayat. He further pointed out that the Salcete tourism map shows that the beach stretch there exists no such beach as Zalor, adding that Varca panchayat’s jurisdiction over the beach starts with the area bordering Cavelossim, adding that all the revenue from the existing structures and hotels comes to the Varca panchayat. “Zalor is a ward in Carmona. It has no beach. The beach falls in the jurisdiction of Varca,” he added.
Roland later told the media that the panchayat would immediately write to the authorities to obtain NOCs only from the Varca panchayat since the panchayat enjoys exclusive jurisdiction over the beach belt.
The gram sabha also discussed the ongoing beautification of the Pedda road, which had raised many an eyebrow amongst the local residents as the plan would require felling of trees.
