Residents of Nessai in Sao Jose de Areal who assembled at the Panchayat Ghar to demand that the ongoing work on a compound wall for a playground be called off. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Residents of Nessai in Sao Jose de Areal on Monday assembled at the Panchayat Ghar to demand revocation of provisional approval for sub-division of land for plots and the withdrawal of construction license for a compound wall in the area and to retain the land for a playground.
The Sao Jose de Areal Panchayat had a meeting chaired by Sarpanch Miguel Gomes, wherein it was decided to hold a site inspection before taking appropriate decision.
The residents led by Tenny Paul Fernandes and others maintained that the construction of the compound wall in the area in question has resulted in the damage to the PWD water pipeline, causing water shortage in the locality. They demanded to know how the panchayat and the concerned authorities have allowed the construction of the compound wall when the water pipeline has not been shifted out from the property.
That’s not all. The residents pointed out that the panchayat had taken a resolution in the past to put a stop to real estate projects and sub-division of plots. “The village has suffered immensely over the years for want of planned development. The gram sabha had in the past resolved not to permit any more sub-division of land for mega housing projects in the absence of infrastructure such as garbage disposal”, he said.
He added; “We had asked the Panchayat to call for an inspection of the land in question and to keep the work on hold pending inspection. We also want the panchayat to call for a gram sabha to discuss the issue threadbare”.
Tenny Paul Fernandes pointed out that the land in question, which is presently demarcated as settlement zone, needs to be changed to agriculture zone and should be reserved for grazing and agriculture. “The injustice done to the indigenous communities due to the failure of the law and the authorities to protect their rights must be admitted”, he said, adding that the residents will use all available means to ensure that the land use is corrected.
Nessai ward member Franky Rodrigues told the media that the panchayat would hold an inspection of the land, adding that the Panchayat would not hesitate to stop the work on the compound wall if the work is carried out in an unauthorized manner and violating the setback provision.
He, however, said the TCP has granted the technical clearance, adding that the panchayat has also given the construction license.
