the goan I network
MAPUSA
Pointing to alleged illegalities carried out by a five-star hotel constructed in a thickly populated area, locals from Gaura-vaddo, Calangute, at the Sunday gram sabha demanded strong action against the hotel.
"The hotel is constructed without leaving any setback. Five illegal compound walls have been erected. The balconies have encroached in someone else's property," alleged Felix, a gram sabha member. Claiming that the hotel has been creating a lot of problems to residents in Gaura-vaddo, he said generators have been installed very close to residential homes.
He said on the intervention of the local MLA, some generators have been shifted but the problem was yet to be fully resolved.
He further said the hotel has apparently left its sewerage and dirty water into open drains in the area.
"A foul smell emanates from the back side of the hotel, creating nuisance to the locals living in the area," Felix alleged.
Pointing to the three-metre road which provides access to the hotel, he said as it is the road was narrow and the guests were parking vehicles on the road, depriving access to the locals who have to use the same stretch.
Sarpanch Anthony Menezes assured the residents of Gaura-vaddo that he will look into the matter.
Gram sabha members took the secretary to task for failure to provide proper information on the funds available with the panchayat after the new members took over the panchayat in June this year.
"Former sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira claimed that there was Rs 16 crore with the panchayat when he relinquished office. The new panch members say there is only Rs 10.41 crore. But the secretary has no figures to back the claim," said one local.
The panchayat secretary informed that the chartered account was looking into the audit matter and once official figures come, he will inform the public.
Some gram sabha members opposed the license granted to a parlour, which acts as a den for nefarious activities.
The sarpanch said he will support the locals against all kinds of vices and was ready to come on the streets.
"If necessary, we should all come out on the road and take law in our hands to stop all the illegalities," he said.
