PANAJI
The Chimbel Village Panchayat faced sharp criticism from a local resident after conducting a Gram Sabha meeting on privately owned land without the owner’s consent.
The issue came to the fore during the Gram Sabha held on Sunday in an open space near the Panchayat house, when the aggrieved villager objected to the venue and questioned the authority behind the decision.
Identifying himself as Agnelo Fernandes, the resident said the land belonged to his late father, Antonio Fernandes, and is now legally owned by him. Confronting the Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary during the meeting, he demanded to know who had permitted the use of his property.
“Whose property is this? I have always supported the Panchayat, just like my father did, but you cannot hold a meeting on private land without my permission,” Fernandes said, expressing strong displeasure.
He also raised concerns over possible encroachment, alleging that such actions could be a precursor to authorities using the land for development projects without consent, drawing parallels with controversies like the proposed Unity Mall on sensitive land.
Responding to the objection, Chimbel Sarpanch Sandesh Shirodkar admitted the lapse and apologised, stating that the decision to hold the Gram Sabha at the location was taken at short notice.
“We decided last night in a hurry to hold the meeting here. We apologise for not informing you,” Shirodkar said, urging the resident not to hold a grievance over the incident.
