MARGAO
The issue over the village carrying capacity study again brought citizens and the Varca village panchayat face-to-face on Monday.
At a hearing called by Salcete Block Development Officer Nimisha Faldesai, the citizens’ group demanding the village carrying capacity study slammed the delay by the panchayat in taking the gram sabha resolution to its logical conclusion.
On the other hand, Varca sarpanch Flavia Barretto and panchayat members Solan Furtado and Roland Fernandes maintained there was no delay in implementing the gram sabha resolution and attributed the delay to obtaining the government’s nod to take up the study.
After the hearing with the BDO, villager Sohail Furtado recalled that the extraordinary gram sabha meeting of the Varca panchayat held in August last had resolved to conduct a carrying capacity study in view of the rise in constructions in the village.
He, however, lamented that though it has now been eight months since the gram sabha adopted the resolution, the carrying capacity study is yet to begin. He further said the panchayat is now giving an excuse that the government had announced in the last Assembly session that a carrying capacity study will be conducted by an agency across the State.
“We want to ask whether a government-appointed agency will conduct a carrying capacity study of Varca to understand the peculiar problems facing the village,” Sohail questioned.
Sarpanch Flavia, however, told the media that the panchayat has not issued a single construction licence for multi-dwelling units in the village since the August gram sabha.
She further said that the panchayat has been communicating with the panchayat authorities, including the Director of Panchayats, on how to proceed with the carrying capacity study.
Panch member Solan Furtado said the panchayat is treading a cautious path in conducting the carrying capacity study, not sure whether a study by a private agency will find favour with the government.
