VASCO
A residential colony near Kala Bhavan in Sancoale saw a high voltage drama on Sunday morning as Sancoale Comunidade tried to dump mud and block the road while claiming that local residents are trying to encroach their land on the name of the road. However irate locals, who claimed that the road was a traditional access for the area, sat in front of the trucks and did not allow the mud to be dumped.
Verna police led by PI Diago Gracias rushed to the site fearing law and order situation and informed the Deputy Collector who called both the parties for a joint meeting on Monday evening.
The area had seen tense moments some days back when the mud was found dumped and the road was blocked and it was only after Cortalim MLA Anton Vas spoke to the Dy Collector, the mud was cleared and the road opened.
Sources said that Sancoale Comunidade members claimed that the residential colony in the area already had a road access but had been using the road through their land as a shortcut and feared that the land would be encroached by locals.
Jayesh Fadte, a share holder of Sancoale Comunidade said that the road was blocked the last time but it was not done by him as the residents claimed.
"It was done by Sancoale Communidade in the interest of the share holders and we don't know what is the interest of the locals to use the area in our land when they already have an approved road,"said Fadte.
" As per law , they have to approach the Comunidade officially and give us a request letter after which this issue will be discussed in the general body meeting and we can approve if required. We may have to file a case against the government in case there is a law and order situation here," said Sancoale Comunidade president Pratap Mardolkar.
Another shareholder said that communidade can give property or land only if any other area is landlocked.
" As per law, a road of 5 metre width can be given if the area is landlocked but we have verified that the residential colony already has an access road to their property. Hence there is no chance that we give our prime land to these people and if they have issues, let them approach our office and meet the managing committee," said the share holder.
Meanwhile a resident said that the road in discussion was being used by the locals for several years.
"We have had a similiar issue in December and road was blocked after Sancoale Comunidade dumped mud on this road. We then approached the Dy Collector and filed a complaint and we got an order to remove the mud and we opened the road. Now again, these guys have come and got truckloads of mud to block this road and we will remove it again. This road is being used by Kala Bhavan and our residents from this area and we have been using this road for the last 16 years," said the resident.
