MARGAO
The Carmona gram sabha on Sunday saw beleaguered residents of Olwaddo literally begging with the sarpanch and the panchayat to stop the alleged nuisance created by the Verda resorts, while demanding the immediate revocation of the license issue by the local body.
At the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Savita Mascarenhas, residents of Olwaddo led by Maria Fernandes virtually pleaded with the sarpanch and the panchayat body to save them from the nuisance created by the resorts.
The gram sabha members demanded that the panchayat should not renew the license to Verda resorts, fearing that the situation will return back to square one. “Residents staying close to the resort are facing nuisance. The vehicles are plying on the narrow road, bringing guests. Do we not have the right to live a peaceful life,” Maria demanded to know.
The grams sabha members further demanded to know how a commercial establishment can be granted license when the road leading to the project is too narrow even to accommodate two vehicles. They drew attention of the sarpanch to the mandatory 10-meter wide road for all commercial establishments to get occupancy, adding that Verda did not approach the Town and Country Planning department precisely because of the narrow road.
The residents pointed out that the panchayat cannot expect them to stand outside Verda throughout the day and night to point out the nuisance, demanding that the local body come out with a solution to save them from the nuisance.
Another gram sabha member demanded to know whether the road leading to Verda has been acquired by the government, further demanding to know whether the road in question conforms to the TCP norms.
Sarpanch Savita assured the members that the panchayat would immediately write to the office of the Deputy Collector and the police to take care of the nuisance as alleged by the residents. The sarpanch further assured that the panchayat would take legal opinion on how to go about evolving a permanent solution to the Verda resorts issue.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha has approved the annual budget estimates after incorporating changes mooted by the members. For instance, the panchayat has agreed to increase the funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the playground from Rs three lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
One of the gram sabha members suggested that the panchayat look out for a small piece of land isolated form human habitation for sorting of dry waste.
A resolution was adopted by the gram sabha to install a portrait of Dr Jack de Sequeira in the panchayat hall.
