Residents, activists question p’yat on infra strain; special meet on village carrying capacity on Aug 24
The gram sabha of Varca village panchayat turned stormy after a member passed a personal remark at a panchayat member.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Anti-mega housing projects rent the air at the gram sabha of the Varca village panchayat on Sunday, with members questioning the panchayat over the delay in holding a special gram sabha to discuss the village carrying capacity.
Sarpanch Flavia Barretto later informed that the special gram sabha will be held on August 24 to discuss the issue of mega housing projects. She also informed that the panchayat would invite a resource person to guide the panchayat and the members on the village carrying capacity.
The proceedings turned story midway through the meeting after a gram sabha member passed a personal remark at a panchayat member. The meeting witnessed uproar and bedlam before other gram sabha members intervened to restore order.
Gram sabha member and social activist Sohail Furtado questioned the Chair over the inordinate delay in convening the special gram sabha when the previous gram sabha had resolved to demand the meeting at the earliest.
When the Sarpanch pointed out that the special gram sabha could not be called for lack of a resource person, Sohail insisted that what the members had demanded was the convening of the special gram sabha to discuss the issue of housing projects.
Sohail informed the gram sabha that a massive project titled as a resort with 232 rooms is coming up in the village. He explained how the project had received the approval from the previous panchayat body and the renewal over a year ago.
Former Varca sarpanch Reginaldo Rodrigues, who was present at the meeting, told the members that he did not approve the project during his stint as sarpanch. In fact, Reginaldo claimed that he had to face a no confidence motion after he refused to grant approval for the project.
Sohail pointed out that Varca village is also facing problems in respect of drinking water and power supply, garbage disposal et al.
Sarpanch Flavia Barretto later told the media that the panchayat will seek legal advice on the demand made by the gram sabha not to grant approvals for mega housing projects. “This panchayat fully endorses the concerns raised by the gram sabha. We are with the people of the village. But, when the file comes from the Town and Country Planning, the panchayat has little option than to grant the approvals. We will seek advice how to stop the projects cleared by the TCP,” she said.
Panchayat member Solar Furtado said the panchayat understands the sentiments of the villagers, but reminded that gram sabha resolutions cannot stop the projects from coming up. We will have to cite legal grounds to stop the projects. That’s the reason why the panchayat wanted to get a resource person to guide us on the village carrying capacity to stop the projects,” he added.
The gram sabha also discussed a host of other issues including garbage collection and disposal, levy of house tax and fines and the recent chain snatching cases witnessed in the village.
