the goan I network
MAPUSA
Upset with blatant landfilling and illegal structures sprouting on agricultural land in the village, the Bastora gram sabha on Sunday questioned the panchayat for allowing illegal activities to go on right under its nose.
A local, Jhon Abreu said cement blocks were being manufactured in fields while the panchayat was turning a blind eye to the activity.
“Cultivated fields have been given for producing cement blocks. Has the panchayat given any permission to the party who is carrying out the activity,” the local asked.
Sarpanch Savio Martins informed the gram sabha that the owner was a widow who came crying and appealed with the panchayat to help her start the business.
“Technically we cannot give permission but in this case we gave her the NOC on humanitarian grounds as she is doing it for her livelihood,” Martins said.
Not happy with the sarpanch’s justification, Abreu said the panchayat had no right to issue permission for illegal activity under any circumstances.
“Will the panchayat issue permission for starting of drug business or a brothel in the village on similar humanitarian grounds?” the local countered.
Former deputy sarpanch, Andrew D’Souza said that illegal mud filling activity and structures in agricultural land was a serious issue and needed to be stopped.
He also sought to know if the panchayat had a list of such ongoing illegal activities in the village.
The sarpanch informed that action was initiated against those people on whom the panchayat has received complaints.
“You give me the names. We will initiate the necessary process against the offenders,” the sarpanch said.
The panchayat was also questioned on the issue of illegal dumping of debris in fields touching a road in Xell, Bastora which was recently highlighted by The Goan.
Locals also brought to the attention of the panchayat that the garbage collector was not doing his job properly and giving some houses the miss.
The sarpanch assured the gram sabha that he will look into the matter and talk to the waste collector.
Locals suggested that work on trimming of bushes and road repair should be taken up on priority due to the upcoming festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Former deputy sarpanch, Andrew D’Souza stressed
the need to push the high tension power lines underground because of constant power interruptions in the monsoon.
The sarpanch informed that the panchayat had already passed a resolution on underground cabling and the same has been forwarded to the government for action.
