THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
Even as the Election Code of Conduct for the recent assembly polls brought affairs of the panchayats to a grinding halt, it seems to have come handy for some elements to clandestinely develop properties without any permission from authorities concerned.
And one such development has come to light near the Kadamba Plateau in Chimbel, when a large tract of land was recently cleared and an access road built, raising suspicion of a major project in the making.
Upon getting information about the clandestine work, the Chimbel Gram Seva Kala ani Sanskrutik Manch immediately filed a complaint with the Chimbel panchayat asking it to immediately stop the work and also to approach higher authorities so that the culprits are brought to book.
“When we went to the site, we saw the work being undertaking on a war footing with trees being cut and road built. But there was no signboard installed to indicate whether permissions have been sought from authorities like the TCP, Forest Department, Panchayat, etc,” informed Tukaram Kunkolkar, secretary of the manch, raising apprehension that it would not have happened without the blessing of local politicians.
Kunkolkar further informed that such types of unauthorized activities were happening in Chimbel during the enforcement of the code of conduct, with the perpetrators taking advantage of the same.
“We demand strict action against perpetrators of such activities and urge the panchayat authorities to approach higher authorities so that such elements are punished,” he said, adding that it would then serve as a deterrent to others.
When The Goan contacted the developer undertaking the work, he said that the work was undertaken at the request of the owners of the property.
“I have not cut a single tree at the site. I have only cleared the bushes for which no permission from the forest department is required,” he added.
The developer insisted that no project is planned and it is for the personal use of the owners.
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Panchayat issues stop work order
OLD GOA: Acting on a complaint of the Chimbel Gram Seva Kala ani Sanskrutik Manch, the panchayat has issued a stop-work order to the party undertaking the development work in the property near the Kadamba Plateau in Chimbel.
“The party has also been asked to produce documents in support of the development works undertaken,” informed Panchayat Secretary Bheldas Karapurkar.
“The issue will now be placed at the fortnightly meeting to be held on February 14, where decision on the future course of action will be taken,” Karapurkar added.
When contacted, Chimbel Sarpanch Shoban Borkar informed that the panchayat had not issued any permission for the development works in the said property.
“Panchayat authorities came to know about it only after a complaint was received from the Manch,” said Borkar.
