High rise structures tower at Reis Magos meet
Sarpanch says panchayat cannot deny licence
THE GOAN NETWORK
SALIGAO
Reis Magos gram sabha on Sunday witnessed heated discussions over the issue of multi-storey buildings coming up in the village.
Raising the issue, Atmaram Dabholker said Ambekhand in Reis Magos has lost its identity, as high rise buildings are coming up in the area.
“In the past, there were only 62 families residing in Ambekhand. Now there are umpteen numbers of families, but infrastructure is the same. This situation is prevalent in other parts of the village too and due to massive construction activities and increase in population, the water table has gone down,” he said.
He said there is shortage of water supply, power fluctuations, garbage menace, etc. “Considering the load on infrastructure, the panchayat should not encourage high rise buildings in the village,” requested Dabholker.
Suraj Chodanker said the panchayat cannot impose restrictions on construction activities. “If a villager desires to construct a multi-storey building in his own property, how can the panchayat refuse him permission,” argued Chodanker.
Sarpanch Kedar Naik clarified that the projects are approved by the Town and Country and Planning department and panchayat only gives construction license.
“Panchayat cannot refuse to give license once the project is cleared by TCP. Nevertheless, the panchayat will write to PWD, electricity department, health department and TCP conveying the problems faced by the residents due to mass construction activities,” said Naik.
When Panchayat Secretary Rajesh Naik said the panchayat has received a memorandum from the government to adopt a resolution in the gram sabha to make North Goa smoke free and tobacco free, the villagers pointed out that some shopkeepers are selling tobacco products in the vicinity of the panchayat office.
Some villagers informed that the Hindu crematorium was in bad shape and needed repairs. Sarpanch Naik assured to repair and renovate it.
The issues of door-to-door garbage collection, de-silting of canals, migrant labourers, etc, were also discussed in the gram sabha.
Gangaram Morajker was felicitated for receiving Dalit Puroskar Award from the State government.
Earlier, Sarpanch Naik welcomed the villagers, while Secretary Naik read the minutes of the previous gram sabha.
