MARGAO
The Carmona village panchayat and members of the Carmona Village Social Welfare Forum on Thursday conducted site inspection of the Raheja property in the village amidst strong police protection, with acting Sarpanch Savita Mascarenhas telling the media that the panchayat would initiate further action after consulting its legal
counsel.
However, the inspection put to rest speculation that construction work was continuing at the site as it was established that whatever work carried out inside the property was prior to the TCP and panchayat's stop work order.
Only members of the panchayat body led by the Acting Sarpanch, besides members of the village forum were permitted entry inside the property for the site inspection. The Raheja side was led by Association vice-president Kamal Khemani. Concerned villagers waited anxiously outside the Raheja gate with banners and placards demanding a stop to the mega project.
"We have noted all the points that came up during the inspection. We have taken into account the concerned road constraints. The panchayat will get in touch with our legal advisor before initiating future course of action," the acting sarpanch told the media after the inspection.
Panch members Allywn George said the Raheja officials have assured to adhere by the TCP and panchayat's stop work order until the PIL pending in the High Court is disposed of.
President of Carmona Village Social Welfare Forum Succoro Miranda lamented that the last body has issued the licence when the election code of conduct was in force, adding that the revised plan was approved without an inspection. "We are satisfied with today's inspection, but the panchayat had overlooked a lot of things. The panchayat did not have a look at the sanad," Miranda said.
While asserting that the narrow road is a major concern of the villagers, Miranda alleged that the 75 metre stretch relaxation under the Building rules appears to have been tailor-made for the Rahejas. "The road inside Raheja is around 8-10 metres, but the approach road is hardly three metres. Can two cars pass along the 73 metre stretch is still a question," he said.
Villager Wenzy Viegas demanded that TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai should order an inquiry into the 2011 gazette notification granting relaxation for 75 metre road stretch as the social activists have obtained information that the rule was not passed in the Assembly.
Social activists Fr Eremito Rebelo, Olencio Simoes, Edwin Pinto, Abhijit Prabhudesai, Rony Dias were also present to express their solidarity with the Carmona villagers.
Raheja official says all work stopped as per order of TCP and panchayat
MARGAO: Raheja Universal's Associate Vice-President, Kamal Khemani has said the Mumbai-based realtor has stopped all work at the Carmona property as per the stop work order issued by the TCP and the panchayat, even though he maintained that there's bar from the court to stop work at the site.
Speaking to the media after the site inspection, Khemani said, "In all friendliness, we have agreed to stop the work. They have seen the work. Labour and machinery has moved out though the Court had allowed us to carry out the work subject to the outcome of the PIL." Responding to the allegation from citizens that the project sanad has already expired, he shot back "this is not true. The sanad is valid. Based on this sanad, we had received various approvals," he added.
