Priol raise voice against illegal plots
Decide to hold dharna on May 3, over govt inaction
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
The Veling-Priol-Kuncolim gram sabha on Sunday witnessed a large turnout of villagers to oppose the alleged illegal development of plots along the bypass road in Kuncolim area and resolved to bar the builders lobby from entering their area.
All the 11 panchas including the sarpanch along with the villagers will stage a 'dharna' in front of the deputy collector's office at Ponda on May 3, to condemn the government officers for not taking action against the controversial development.
The gram sabha was held at the Santeri temple hall as over 300 villagers gathered for the meet, which was chaired by the Sarpanch Damodar Naik. Secretary Kapil Naik and panchas were present.
The sarpanch informed that nobody had submitted any questions for the gram sabha till April 22; however, the queries raised by villagers were entertained and discussed.
When it was inquired as to what action was taken by the panchayat over illegal development of plots, the sarpanch said they had informed all the departments concerned, but nobody had replied. “We have written to 11 departments and ministers, but nobody has replied to us or taken any action against the developer,” the sarpanch said.
Naik further said the panchayat does not have power to stop the hill cutting, as it doesn’t come under the panchayat ambit.
Adv Raju Mangeshkar said if the government officials are not paying heed to the correspondence sent by the panchayat, then they should be condemned by all. “Panchayat has met with disrespect from the officials, hence all should stage a dharna against them,” said Mangeshkar and all agreed to stage the dharna on May 3.
A resolution was adopted to bar the builders' lobby from the panchayat jurisdiction.
The sarpanch also lamented that the 'flying squads' disconnected the phone when people informed them about hill cutting taking place in Mangeshi.
The sarpanch said Rs 80,000 is spent monthly on garbage collection.
