MARGAO
Mega housing projects dominated the proceedings of the village Panchayat of Camurlim on Sunday, with the gram sabha adopting a resolution demanding that the government put a cap on the mega housing projects in the villages.
The gram sabha also demanded a new regional plan for the village.
The gram sabha meeting chaired by Sarpanch Basil Fernandes saw the members demanding a ban on the mega housing projects in the village. A resolution ash
The members draw attention of the recent statement made by Salcete BDO, Pallavi Mishra, IAS that the gram sabha has no powers to ban mega housing projects. They questioned the statement made by the Salcete BDO, pointing out that the gram sabha members know what is best for the village, adding that the panchayat should go by the sentiments of the members.
Sarpanch Basil replied back to the members, saying the BDO has no right to participate or speak at the gram sabha meetings chaired by the Sarpanch. He, however, told the members that a Panchayat body is guided by the law and rules governing its functioning, adding the unless the law is suitably amended by the legislature, the panchayat cannot take decisions to ban the projects.
After much deliberations and discussions, the gram sabha adopted a resolution to demand that the government amend the law and ban mega housing projects in the state.
Sarpanch Basil later told the media that he is sympathetic to the sentiments expressed by the gram sabha members on mega housing projects. “The mega housing projects will one day make the Goans strangers in their own land. The Panchayat is bound to act as per the law and rules in force. Hence, there is a need to bring a legislation to stop the mega housing projects in the villages”, Basil said.
