Now, Cunchelim SC opposes conversion; Ex-sarpanch wants govt to probe into plot scam
MAPUSA
Adding power to the ongoing agitation against plans of the Cunchelim comunidade to develop an open ground into plots, the Cunchelim Sports Club has decided to fight tooth and nail against the project and retain the playground for posterity.
In an extra-ordinary general body meeting on Sunday, the Cunchelim Sports Club resolved to appoint former Siolim-Sodiem sarpanch, Francis Fernandes as the advisor of the club while also enlisting the services of the Mapusa-based RTI activist Jawaharlal Shetye.
The club has also appointed Adv Kamlakant Poulekar to represent them in the court of law.
The club has further resolved to submit a written representation to the Mapusa Municipal Council, NGPDA, Administrator of communiade and Mapusa MLA opposing the comunidade plans to develop the ground.
The President of the club, Francis Fernandes accused the local comunidade of deceit and trickery assuring the members of the sports club that the plan was to build a ground and a club house but did something else. “They have tricked us by play of words. What they have done is sub-divided the land into plots and marked a recreation ground which will be only for the trustees and the residents of the plots,” Fernandes said.
The Cunchelim Sports Club was registered in 1976. The club has a football team which is affiliated to the Goa Football Association and plays matches in the second division.
Former sarpanch of Siolim-Sodiem, Francis Fernandes who has been appointed as the advisor of the club alleged that the Cunchelim comunidade has committed a fraud while taking up development of the open ground in the village.
He said the plan to sub-divide the plots on the playground was conceived by a few executive members of the comunidade who are not residents of Cunchelim.
Giving the chronology of the events, Fernandes said the Cunchelim comunidade announced convening of an extra-ordinary general body meeting of its shareholders in the official gazette in August 2017.
He disclosed that the agenda of the meeting was to discuss ‘the proposed “Club House” in the recreational land of PT Sheet No 5 and Chalta No 106 belonging to the comunidade of Cunchelim and other developmental plans’.
He further revealed that as per the gazette notification the meeting was supposed to be held in the office of comunidade of Cunchelim.
“Instead of holding the meeting at Cunchelim comunidade office the meeting was held in Mapusa comunidade hall which is six kilometres away. This was done with the ulterior motive so that none of the local village shareholders could attend the meeting. This is first fraud committed by the comunidade,” Fernandes alleged.
He further disclosed that the agenda spoke of discussion on Club House but failed to clearly mention the discussion on sub-division of plots which was taken up as part of ‘other development plans’.
According to the former sarpanch the site plans show 39 plots with 36 of these plots having an area of around 300 sq mts and three exclusive plots of over 1,000 sq mts area.
“The three exclusive plots have been reserved for some big shots. This development of club house is a big scam. There is corruption involved in this. We want the government to institute an inquiry and find out who are involved in the scam,” Fernandes alleged.
‘Politicos also involved’
MAPUSA: Former sarpanch of Siolim-Sodiem, Francis Fernandes admitted that the development of Cunchelim ground into plots cannot be done without the help of politicians.
“This is not the handiwork of comunidade members alone. We are aware some politicians are involved and we will expose them when the time comes,” Fernandes said.
He, however, said he was hopeful the young Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza will intervene and save the ground for the youth of the village.
He said former Mapusa MLA late Francisco D’Souza wanted to develop the Cunchelim football ground. “Ex-Mapusa MLA and I have attended a couple of sports events on the ground. He had the intention to develop this ground,” the former sarpanch said.
