MARGAO
The controversial issue of illegal sub-division of plots and the panchayat’s failure to lodge an FIR against the land owners figured prominently at the gram sabha of Sao Jose de Areal on Sunday.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Perry Da Costa witnessed members demanding to know why the panchayat has been dilly dallying on the question of lodging an FIR with the police against the land owners who had illegally developed plots without the mandatory sub-divisions.
Sarpanch Perry sought to calm down frayed tempers by saying that the body had already written to the Town and Country Planning department and the office of the Salcete Sub-Registrar over the matter. Members, however, expressed their unhappiness at the panchayat’s action, demanding that the it immediately lodge an FIR with the police.
Left with no option, Sarpanch Perry told the agitated members that the panchayat would lodge the FIR against the land owners within a week.
The issue of scrapyards also dominated the gram sabha. Members sought status of the illegal scrap yards operating in the village and the failure of the authorities to raze these down. The sarpanch explained that the panchayat had moved the Salcete BDO for demolition of the 10 scrapyards, but the same came a cropper after the owners knocked the doors of the court.
Incidentally, the sarpanch answered in the negative when members questioned him whether the court had granted any stay on the demolition. Members demanded that the panchayat send a fresh proposal to the BDO to raze down the structures.
The issue of carbon pollution also came up for discussion with members demanding action by the panchayat. The sarpanch replied saying that the panchayat would find out the extent of pollution after the factory commences production and installs the pollution control equipment.
On the State highway passing through Sao Jose de Areal, gram sabha member Freddy Travasso told the Sarpanch that the Panchayat should take a stand that the original proposal should be implemented and not the alignment which has been decided by the government recently.
