MARGAO
The Sao Jose de Areal gram sabha witnessed uproar on Sunday after members questioned the Chair and the panchayat body over the action taken in respect of a development of a property at Nessai.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Linda Fernandes had to field a host of questions put by the members at the time of confirmation of minutes on the property in question. The sarpanch later adjourned the meeting to April 16.
When the minutes of the previous meeting was taken up for confirmation, gram sabha members led by Freddy Travasso demanded to know from the Chair the action taken report on the decisions taken by the meeting vis-Ã -vis the property in question.
Freddy drew attention of the sarpanch that the gram sabha members had at the previous body meeting had demanded that the panchayat body send a stop work order notice to the owner of the property in question to stop the ongoing work. He further pointed out that the gram sabha member had also taken a decision demanding that the panchayat send the file pertaining to the property at Nessai to the Special Investigating Team (SIT) for a probe.
Freddy and other members insisted that the Chair reply to the points raised by the gram sabha. The sarpanch and the Panchayat Secretary repeatedly pointed out that they are confirming the minutes of the previous meeting and the members can take up the matter during the course of the meeting.
The members, however, insisted that the Chair reply to their queries, as they demanded to know the action taken by the panchayat on the decisions of the previous meeting.
Freddy and other members further claimed that the property in question at Nessai has no public road access and demanded to know whether this fact had not come to the notice of the panchayat body during the inspection.
Freddy and other members were seen questioning Deputy Sarpanch Valente who had pointed out that it is the Town and Country Planning Department which is issuing the permission for the NOC and that the property in question has an access road.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva, who attended the Areal gram sabha, also spoke at the meeting and has promised the members that he will take up the matter with the concerned authorities in view of the serious questions raised by the gram sabha members vis-Ã -vis the property.
