MARGAO
The Curtorim Village Panchayat on Thursday revoked the construction licence issued to a controversial project at Gogalli in the Maina area of the village.
The issue figured at the meeting of the Panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Alexinho D’Silva, wherein the members decided to revoke the construction licence. The Sarpanch later told the media that the Panchayat had revoked the licence in view of the objections raised by the people. “The Panchayat has decided to stand by the people of Maina. Hence, it has been decided to revoke the construction licence issued by the Panchayat body based on the clearance from the TCP,” the Sarpanch added.
Villagers of Maina–Curtorim, led by ex-Zilla Panchayat Member and Congress leader Moreno Rebelo, attended the Curtorim Panchayat body meeting where the issue of the controversial housing project at Gogalli, Maina–Curtorim came up for discussion.
Moreno later told the media that the issue had become a matter of grave concern as there was felling of trees that caused permanent damage to the land. He said the Forest Department had taken cognisance of the matter after receiving a complaint, filed a case against the owner of the land for illegal felling of trees, and instructed the Panchayat to issue a stop-work order on the concerned site.
“The project had attracted a lot of agitation from the people of Maina, where the Panchayat was questioned about how the project was given permission without a pre-body meeting of the Panchayat and without a site inspection by the local Panch member. During the meeting, none of the Panch members claimed to know anything about the project, including the local Panch member of the concerned ward,” he said.
Following continuous pressure from the villagers, Moreno said the Panchayat has withdrawn permission for the construction. “This is a victory against any further illegal constructions that may come up in Curtorim henceforth,” he added.
