the goan I network
MARGAO
It's official. Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday formally issued a note to the TCP officials to issue show cause notice to Mumbai-based realtor Ms Raheja Universal to keep work on the housing project at Carmona on hold till the issues raised by the Carmona panchayat body are
redressed.
In his brief note, the TCP Minister told the officials to issue order/show cause notice to Raheja to stop all construction or any activity at the site until issues raised by the village panchayat in its petition to him are resolved.
The Carmona panchayat body and those waging a sustained battle against the Raheja project has hailed the TCP Minister's decision, with panch member and activist Allwyn George appreciating the decision.
"We really appreciate and admire the bold and swift action of the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai in enforcing his statements to show cause and keep on hold the Raheja project till the issues raised by VP Carmona are addressed,"
Allwyn said.
In a statement, he said the panchayat body will meet on August 23 and initiate the next course of action after this latest development. Following the TCP Minister's decision, he said the panchayat body now expects the TCP to agree for the Joint Site Inspection as mandated by the body resolution. "We hope and expect the TCP minister to fully back the villagers and work towards annulling the unjust and mischievous Amendment to the Building rules regarding access requirements which was tailor made to favour the builder and deliver justice to the people of Carmona fighting their long battle against Raheja and mega housing projects," Allwyn said.
"We wish to stress that as far as the Carmona panchayat is concerned we are united in our stand against the developer," he said.
When The Goan contacted the TCP office, Margao to shed light on the note put up by the TCP Minister to keep work at the Raheja project site on hold, an official said the note was received by the office only on Monday noon, adding that necessary action will be initiated as per the directions of the TCP Minister.
"The note was received by the office only on Monday noon. We will take necessary action in the matter as directed by the TCP Minister," remarked a senior TCP official.
In the petition which was submitted to the TCP Minister, the Carmona panchayat has claimed that the authorities had ignored various irregularities while granting technical clearance for the housing project. The panchayat sought the intervention of the TCP Minister to direct the TCP to conduct a joint inspection of the project as per the panchayat resolution.
The petition had also raised the main issue, mostly concerning the road which has not been mitigated till date. The panchayat members have also raised the issue of the Amendment to the Building rules, granting relaxation to the road width at a stretch admeasuring 73 metres. Though the TCP had invoked provisions of the Amendment, the road concerns still remain unaddressed till date.
