the goan I network
VASCO
The Quelossim panchayat on Sunday boiled over the issue of the proposed Mini India Park Project (MIPP).
While other issues including the presence of scrapyards in the area were on the agenda, the main issue that rocked the gram sabha was the issuance of NOC to MIPP proponents by panchayat secretary Narayan Azgaonkar without informing the panchayat body.
There were heated arguments between villagers and panchayat members after the topic of NOC to MIPP came up for discussion.
A large number of villagers verbally confronted Azgaonkar for having issued the NOC to MIPP claiming the project could destroy the village and affect the livelihood of the villagers.
However, panchayat secretary Azgaonkar said that he had acted as per the law and later the panchayat body in a special body meeting had revoked the NOC.
The gram sabha later resolved not to issue any NOC to MIPP proponents without putting up the issue before gram sabha members.
“MIPP is being opposed since 2012 by villagers and there have been over 15 site inspections and actions recommended, but till date there has been no action . We have therefore resolved that any NOC that needs to be issued to MIPP proponents either by the panchayat or by the secretary cannot be done before putting it before the gram sabha members,” said Quelossim Village Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Lopinho Xavier speaking to reporters after the gram sabha.
Xavier also said that the gram sabha resolved to initiate action against illegal scrapyards in the Quelossim panchayat jurisdiction.
“Today asked the panchayat as to how many illegal scrap yards were present in its jurisdiction to which the sarpanch said there were 6. The court has already ordered demolition of one and the gram sabha has demanded that it scrapyard be demolished within a month. There are cases going on against two other illegal scrapyards in the Directorate of Panchayats. We requested the Panchayat body to find out the status of the cases within 15 days and also initiate stern action against them,” said Xavier.
