Residents of Maina in Curtorim village take to the streets as part of their ongoing agitation demanding the scrapping of the controversial housing project. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Residents of Maina in Curtorim village upped the ante against the housing project after they marched to the Curtorim Panchayat ghar, demanding the immediate scrapping of the controversial project.
Sitting on an indefinite dharna near the project site since last week, agitated residents led by Moren Rebello demanded to know from village sarpanch Milagres Rodrigues whether the panchayat had challenged the decision of the Additional Director of Panchayats clearing the decks for the project’s construction.
Pointing out to the sarpanch that residents of Maina had been experiencing water scarcity due to pipeline issues, the residents wondered how the authorities could sanction new housing projects when local residents were grappling with water shortages almost every week.
Rebello later told the media that local residents had been protesting against the construction project, comprising 26 flats and 17 shops, on a host of grounds, but in vain. “When local residents are finding it difficult to get an uninterrupted water supply, why are the authorities granting permission for new housing projects in the village?” he demanded to know.
He added: “Today, we have come to the panchayat to find out from the sarpanch whether the panchayat has filed an appeal, since 45 days have passed since the Additional Director of Panchayats passed the order. The sarpanch had promised to file the appeal, but we have come to know that it has not yet been filed.”
Sarpanch Milagres Rodrigues told the media that the panchayat would file an appeal before the higher authority, but hastened to appeal to people to stop indulging in politics over the issue. “After the verdict went in favour of the builder, we had given the residents the option of choosing their lawyer. The people should not be misguided. Even MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has promised financial support if the panchayat falls short of funds. Our lawyer will try his best to get a stay on the court order,” he added.
MLA Reginaldo Lourenco said no one should indulge in politics over the housing project, assuring that the panchayat would file an appeal and put up a strong case explaining why the project should not come up in the village.
