MARGAO
The expectations were high more so when some of the newly-elected panch members, who made it to the panchayat body were known anti-Raheja project activists. Barely two months since their elections, villages has begun to feel, rightly or wrongly, that not enough is being done by the new panchayat body to stop the Raheja project from becoming a reality. The Goan spoke to Sarpanch Winston Dias and President of the Carmona Villagers welfare Forum Succoro Miranda on the contentions issue.
Succoro Miranda, Carmona Villagers Welfare Forum president
Villagers or the Forum is not at all pressuring the new panchayat body to act in any particular way, but has only been asking a simple request, to please hold a site inspection of the Raheja project site at the earliest, Miranda told The Goan.
He, however, lamented that the Sarpanch has been only telling the people that the matter is sub judice - an explanation not at all acceptable to the villagers. "How is the Rajeha issue sub judice. There may be a PIL pending in the High Court, but nothing stops the panchayat from fixing a site inspection of the project. We are surprised that the sarpanch has not held the site inspection on the plea that the matter is sub judice. This is not acceptable to the villagers. We want the Panchayat body to take some concrete action," Succoro said.
He pointed out that the villagers have till date not demanded that the panchayat issue a show cause notice or issue some order to the Rahejas. "We want the panchayat to hold the site inspection first and then we can sit and take a call on the next course of action. This is the simple request we have made to the Panchayat body and nothing else," Succoro added.
Reminding the Sarpanch that the Carmona panchayat body is a local authority, Succoro said that the panchayat has the powers to hold an inspection even if the TCP does not agree for a joint inspection of the Raheja property.
