The time and again postponement of inspections by Colva panchayat exposes a troubling failure of the panchayat to serve village interests. Its primary responsibility is to prevent inconvenience from poor planning, yet its actions suggest other priorities.
The rapid rise of housing colonies by outside developers, often sold to non-locals, is a growing concern. While legal, such projects strain infrastructure and ignore the land’s carrying capacity. The Panchayat’s weak regulation raises serious questions. By permitting unchecked construction, ignoring local voices, and repeatedly delaying inspections, it appears complicit in systemic neglect.
My own experience with illegal construction, and attempts to involve the vigilance department, highlight deeper issues. Instead of decisive action, authorities rely on prolonged correspondence, enabling violations to continue. The Mungul case, where illegal structures took two decades to be addressed, reflects this pattern of delay and inefficiency.
Panchayats must refocus on protecting residents’ interests. At the same time, anti-corruption bodies need to act firmly and promptly. Accountability to local communities”not influential outsiders”is essential for restoring trust.
