MARGAO
Heritage village Chandor witnessed an uproar over a mega housing project with agitated villagers demanding that the panchayat body revoke the NOC issue for the construction of around 28 bungalows.
Leader of Opposition and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao has also rallied behind the villagers, demanding that the government immediately withdraw the technical clearance given for the housing project.
Chandor Sarpanch Estefan Dias told the agitated villagers that the matter will be placed before the gram sabha to revoke the licence.
A group of villagers descended at the Panchayat Ghar on Tuesday morning and handed over a memorandum demanding revocation of the licence issued for the housing project. A group of residents from neighbouring Guirdolim village also extended their support to the movement.
The villagers contended that the housing project, if allowed, will alter the village demography since the local residents will not be able to purchase the bungalows, costing crores of rupees.
A villager Felix Furtado said a huge project proposed in the village will change the village demography. “The project will only invite hordes of outsiders since the locals will not be able to buy the bungalows. We will be marginalised in our own land. We have submitted a memorandum to the panchayat to revoke the NOC. A special gram sabha will be called to discuss the issue,” Furtado said.
Another villager pointed out that villagers struggle to build a house and wondered whether the locals will be able to buy a bungalow costing over Rs 3 crore. “We Chandorkars are against the project. We have told the Sarpanch to revoke the NOC,” he said.
They pointed out that the Chandor gram sabha had around a decade had resolved that the panchayat should not give permission for mega housing projects without the nod of the gram sabha.
Sarpanch Estefan Dias said the panchayat had issued the NOC based on the technical clearances given by the TCP. He, however, said though the panchayat had issued the NOC, work on the project has not started yet. We will place the memorandum submitted by the villagers at the gram sabha,” he added.
To a question, the sarpanch said the project proponent has proposed to supply power to the project via a power generator and also manage the garbage inside the housing complex, spread across 21,000 square meters.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader, Yuri Alemao, who represents Cuncolim constituency, said no mega housing project will be allowed in the villages, more so Chandor, which has been declared as a heritage village.
