VALPOI
A family from Khadki-Shivajinagar in the Khotoda Gram Panchayat area has allegedly been living without a proper house for the past five months after demolishing their old structure on the assurance that a new house would be constructed under the government’s Atal Asra Scheme.
Baburao Harijan and his family members have appealed to local MLA and Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane to intervene and ensure that construction of their house is taken up at the earliest. The Akhil Goa Maharagan Mahasabha has also demanded urgent action, alleging that the family was forced into the situation due to negligence and lack of proper planning by the Gram Panchayat.
A press conference was held by the Mahasabha at Shaheed Stambh in Valpoi. Mahasabha president Navso Jadhav, Baburao Harijan and his family members were present.
According to the family, their old house had deteriorated considerably and had become unsafe. Fearing that the structure could collapse, a proposal was prepared under the Atal Asra Scheme for construction of a new house.
The family said Gram Panchayat office-bearers informed Baburao Harijan that the new house would be constructed after the old structure was demolished. Trusting the assurance, Harijan demolished the house.
However, nearly five months later, construction of the new house has not begun. The family has consequently been left without proper shelter and has faced considerable difficulties, particularly during the monsoon.
Mahasabha alleges
negligence
Speaking at the press conference, Navso Jadhav criticised the Khotoda Gram Panchayat and said the old house should not have been demolished before the necessary approvals, funding and other arrangements for the new house were secured.
Jadhav alleged that the family acted on the assurance given by the Panchayat and demolished its only house, but the promised reconstruction did not follow. He said the situation amounted to injustice to the family.
He appealed to Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane to take immediate cognisance of the matter. According to Jadhav, Rane has helped several needy families in the constituency by providing new houses and facilitating repairs to old houses.
Jadhav alleged that the actual situation faced by Harijan’s family had not been properly brought to the minister’s attention. He said the Mahasabha would submit a memorandum to Rane and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seeking urgent intervention.
Baburao Harijan said several houses had been constructed for needy families in Khadki-Shivajinagar through the efforts of Minister Rane and appealed that his family should also be provided a house.
He said the family had been facing severe difficulties since demolishing the old structure and that the problems had increased during the monsoon. He urged the authorities to begin construction without further delay.
Panchayat says
approval awaited
Khotoda Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Pratima Wandekar, when contacted, said a proposal for Harijan’s house had been submitted to the government under the Atal Asra Scheme. However, she said the Panchayat was still awaiting approval.
Wandekar said Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane had also been informed about the family’s housing problem and had assured that a new house would be provided. She said the Panchayat would follow up with the minister at the earliest to facilitate the construction.
With the family having already spent five months without a proper home, it has urged the authorities to expedite the approval process and ensure that permanent shelter is provided at the earliest.
