MARGAO
Beleaguered residents of Olvaddo-Carmona cried foul on Saturday as operations at the controversial Verda resort at Carmona continued despite the resolution passed by the Carmona village panchayat keeping on hold the renewal of the resort's trade licence.
Carmona Sarpanch Winston Dias, however, pointed out that the Director of Panchayats, South has stayed the resolution adopted by the panchayat to keep the licence renewal on hold.
While staying the panchayat from implementing the resolution, the Additional Panchayat Director, South has now fixed hearing of the case on November 1.
The agitated residents of Olvaddo made their presence felt at the Carmona Panchayat ghar on Saturday morning to find out the reasons behind the continuing operations at the Verda resort, only to be told by the sarpanch that the additional panchayat director has stayed the panchayat
resolution.
The residents demanded to know how operations at Verda has continued when the licence issued for the resort had expired on October 27 midnight.
When the sarpanch replied that the additional panchayat director has stayed the panchayat resolution, the residents demanded a copy of the stay order, only to be told by the sarpanch that the order is with the secretary.
When The Goan contacted Sarpanch Winston to shed light on the development, he said the additional panchayat director has stayed the panchayat resolution and has posted the matter for hearing on November 1. He pointed out that he has sought an appointment with the panchayat lawyer on Saturday evening how to go about contesting the matter before the additional panchayat director.
The agitated residents, however, demanded to know how the additional panchayat director has stayed the panchayat resolution without verifying whether the resort in question had the necessary permissions to use the premises for commercial purpose when the occupancy was issued for a residential project.
Further insisting that the trade licence is to be issued by a panchayat secretary and not by the sarpanch as was the case with the Verda resort, the residents have demanded that the additional panchayat director out to take note of this fact at the hearing of the matter on November 1.
