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MARGAO
The Chinchinim village Panchayat on Wednesday gave its go ahead signal to the Panchayat ghar cum multipurpose project on the acquired land near the Church cemetery at a special meeting of the body gave its stamp of approval for the technical clearance granted for the project by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department.
The Panchayat, at its special meeting held on Wednesday, has now decided to issue construction license for the ambitious project and approach the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) for its execution.
Chinchinim deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto told The Goan that the special meeting was specifically called to discuss and deliberate on the panchayat ghar cum multipurpose project and to take a call since the TCP had granted technical clearance for project. “The Panchayat body at its meeting held approved the TCP clearance and has resolved to issue the construction license”, Valentino said, adding that the Panchayat would officially knock the doors of the GSIDC to take up the multi-crore project.
The Panchayat’s decision brings curtains down on the near decade long controversy over the nature of the project that should come up on the acquired land, which was acquired during the 2007-2012 tenure of incumbent Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues. The project was bogged down in a bitter controversy with one group of villagers insisting that a Panchayat ghar cum market complex should come up on the acquired land as per the original plan, while the rival group proposing a Panchayat ghar cum multipurpose project.
The raging controversy almost divided the villagers, during which time the file had gone to the GSIDC and also the TCP department, but in vain. It was only last year that the gram sabha had resolved that only a Panchayat ghar cum multipurpose project should come on the acquired land and the proposal finally finding favour with the Panchayat body.
Residents cry foul over irregular gram sabha; claim violation of rules
MARGAO: Residents of Chinchinim on Wednesday cried foul over the delay by the Chinchinim Panchayat to hold the regular gram sabha meeting scheduled in December. A delegation of the citizens led by Savio Lopes, who came to the Panchayat ghar on Wednesday given that the Panchayat was scheduled to hold a special meeting, took exception to the delay in holding the gram sabha.
While Sarpanch Inacinha Rebello was not available for comment, Chinchinim deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barreto told The Goan that the last gram sabha, which was scheduled in December last could not take place. He pointed out that the Panchayat had resolved to hold the gram sabha in January, but the same could not take place again because of the issues concerning the Panchayat secretary. The citizens, however, questioned the delay, saying the Panchayat has violated the mandatory provision of holding the gram sabha in December. “The December gram sabha is yet to take place. We are in February now, but the gram sabha scheduled in December is yet to be conducted till date”, lamented a citizen.
