Seek carrying capacity study before issuing licenses for projects
Seraulim gram sabha member Saturnino Rodrigues making a point on his demand to have two separate panchayat bodies.
MARGAO
In an unprecedented resolution, the gram sabha of Seraulim village panchayat on Sunday demanded creation of two panchayat bodies, one, a Panchayat elected by the villagers and another controlled by the builders under the Director of Panchayats.
Agitated gram sabha members also demanded that the authorities conduct carrying capacity study before issuing construction licenses to new housing and commercial projects.
At the gram sabha meeting chaired by deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado, gram sabha member Saturnino Rodrigues tabled a resolution demanding the creation of two Panchayat bodies with the builders and the Panchayat authorities bypassing the elected Panchayat body in matters relating to issuance of construction license.
He wondered what is the use of an elected Panchayat body if the Panchayat authorities including the Block Development Officers and the Panchayat Director are directly issuing the construction licenses for controversial projects. “It is better that we have two panchayats, one elected by the people and the second one headed by the Director of Panchayats to approve construction licenses of builders”, he said.
Another gram sabha member pointed out that building projects are getting approved by the authorities without taking the village carrying capacity into account.
“How come building projects are getting approved when there is severe strain on existing infrastructure including roads, electricity and water”, the gram sabha member questioned, while demanding carrying capacity study.
The gram sabha also discussed the issue of the Seraulim underpass, inundated by the pre-monsoon showers rendering the subway unmotorable.
Gram sabha members also expressed concern over the failure by the authorities to lift away the debris dumped by the PWD, NH contactor during the construction of the western bypass. Members feared that non-removal of the silt may result in flooding of the agricultural fields in the village when the monsoon sets in all its fury.
