Villagers tell panchayat to act against illegal devpt of plots

the goan I networkrMARGAOrThe first gram sabha of the new Sao Jose de Areal Panchayat on Sunday unanimously resolved to ask the panchayat body to crack the whip against rampant illegal development of plots in orchards and other zones in the village. rThe gram sabha presided by sarpanch Perris D’Costa also resolved to ask the government departments to submit their plans to the panchayat. It has been further resolved to write to the district authorities for the closure of the abandoned stone quarries which had recently claimed young lives. r The illegal development of plots in the village took centrestage during the four-hour marathon gram sabha. Agitated members drew the attention of the chair as well as the newly-elected panch members, as to how certain unscrupulous realtors have developed plots without assigning the mandatory sub-division numbers and setting aside necessary open spaces. r In fact, it has come to light that illegal plots have been developed in the village at nine different locations without the mandatory sub-divisions. Agitated members pointed out that the panchayat should step in to halt the unplanned development of the village as unscrupulous realtors develop a road and sell plots to gullible buyers without adhering to mandatory rules. rSarpanch Perris observed that the panchayat had in the past knocked on the doors of the Sub Registrar to halt the sale deeds of plots without assigning sub-divisions, but lamented that the Sub Registrar claimed that his office has no power to stop the sale deeds. r The villagers asked the panchayat to write again to the departments to submit their plan since only two departments, including the Water Resources Department, have complied with the panchayat’s directive. Members felt that the plans submitted by the government departments will aid the panchayat in the planning process for the village. r Given that the abandoned stone quarries have claimed the lives of youngsters in the recent past, gram sabha members asked the sarpanch to write to the District Collector to take necessary steps to cap the quarries. r The issue of Goa Carbon figured at the meeting, and after much discussion, the chair replied they ar yet to receive a report from Goa Pollution Control Board. The members also demanded that a health check-up should be undertaken to assess the impact of the dust emitted from the Goa Carbon factory, and the issue be raised in the Assembly through the local MLA.