Sarpanch bows to agitators, stop-work notice issued to Curtorim mega project

Residents of Maina-Curtorim come face to face with Curtorim Sarpanch Joaquim Estebeiro over the mega housing project near the construction site.

MARGAO
People’s power reigned supreme at Curtorim when the agitation by Curtorkars against mega housing projects forced village Sarpanch Joaquim Estebeiro to issue a stop-work notice to the builder to immediately halt the work on Monday.
The action by the Sarpanch came after the villagers of Maina, Curtorim intensified their ongoing agitation after they marched to the construction site with the single-point demand to scrap the housing project, comprising 26 flats and 16 shops.
The agitation came a day after the residents of Maina held a public meeting in the village on Sunday, demanding the immediate scrapping of the housing project.
The residents hit the streets early on Monday when they assembled at the entrance gate to the construction site to demand an immediate stop to the work. The residents stopped a vehicle from unloading construction material at the site. Around the same time, some of the residents went to the residence of Sarpanch Estebeiro to question him about the project.
The Sarpanch, in whose ward the housing project is coming up, arrived at the site, only to come face to face with the agitators. The protesters, including Moreno Rebello and the farmers, confronted the Sarpanch, demanding to know how he did not object to the project proposed in his ward. The Sarpanch tried to explain that panchayat members are not informed about the files submitted to the panchayat, but there were hardly any takers.
After much discussion, the Sarpanch invited the people to the Panchayat ghar, promising to call the Panchayat members and the Panchayat Secretary for an emergency meeting to make a decision.
After discussing the matter at the meeting, the Sarpanch announced that he would issue a stop-work notice to order an immediate halt to the construction. He told the people that he had issued a stop-work notice to the project proponent to stop the work. A copy of the notice would be issued to the police for compliance, he added.
“The panchayat would call on the Salcete BDO and send letters to the TCP and the Health Official to revoke the construction licence, as the residents have raised fears of their wells and agricultural fields being polluted,” the Sarpanch said.
Moreno Rebello told the media that, though the Sarpanch has issued the stop-work notice, the battle is far from over. “In the past, too, the Panchayat had promised to stop work, but in vain. This time, people are determined to get the project scrapped. The site where the project is coming up plays host to aquifers. Any pollution caused by the discharge of sewage and garbage at the project site will affect the wells and the fields,” Moreno added.
He made a fervent call to the Opposition MLAs and leaders to support the ongoing movement launched by the people of Maina against the housing project.
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Parish priest backs protest as FAR row escalates in Curtorim
MARGAO: Parish priest of Maina Church, Fr Domnick Savio Vaz, has rallied behind the local residents opposing the mega housing project.
Fr Vaz made his presence felt near the construction site when the local residents gathered to intensify the agitation against the housing project. “I am the voice of the people. As the parish priest, I have made an announcement. This project will also affect our church as access to the project is through church property,” Fr Vaz said, while questioning how the project was approved without consultation with the local populace.
He further pointed out that the site where the project is coming up plays host to an aquifer, saying any pollution at the site would affect the village and its agricultural fields. “As the parish priest, I have a responsibility to stand by the people of Maina. I am not against development, but the development should be for the welfare of the people of Maina and not for the destruction of the village,” Fr Vaz added.
Locals oppose 100% FAR
Local resident and Congress leader Moreno Rebello has flagged the Town and Country Planning Department’s decision to approve 100 per cent FAR for housing projects in Curtorim. He pointed out that as Curtorim falls in the category of a Level Three panchayat, the FAR cannot go beyond 60 per cent.
“But what we found out recently is that the TCP has approved projects with 90 per cent FAR,” Moreno said, adding that the people of Maina and Curtorim would unite to oppose, tooth and nail, projects with 100 per cent FAR.
He warned the panchayat and other authorities to respect the sentiments of the people of Maina and scrap the project before the ongoing agitation turns into a law and order situation.