the goan I network
MARGAO
While the local residents turned up for the inspection, Sarpanch Menino Fernandes said the inspection has been called off after the owner of the premises submitted a letter to the panchayat demanding postponement of the inspection given his preoccupation on Saturday.
Sarpanch Menino tried to reassure the agitated residents that he would soon give a fresh date for inspection of the premises and initiate action as per the law.
Former Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves, however, suspected something hanky panky in the entire episode. He told the media that the panchayat had issued a demolition order on the structure when he was the sarpanch, while demanding to know why the panchayat secretary has turned a blind eye to the illegality. “House number to a premise cannot be given without approved plan from the Town and Country Planning department,” Snowknon said.
Saying that house number cannot be given in a road widening area, the former sarpanch said it is the job of the secretary to check whether the party has complied with the laid down procedure.
Local activist Alexio D’Souza said the inspection at the First and Second ward of the chicken stall was fixed because a soakpit has been constructed close to a Holy Cross. ‘People are opposed to the structure because it has come in a road widening area. It is surprising that the panchayat has postponed the inspection on flimsy grounds,” he said, while demanding that the panchayat fix an early inspection date of the premises.
