TEAM HERALD
PONDA: The residents of Bethki, Khandola, who are up arms against illegal commercial activities in residential area, blocked unloading of material from a truck, on Tuesday.
They said that they would not allow illegal commercial activities in residential area as “it is hazardous and disturbing peace.”
Fearing law and order, Ponda police were deputed at the site.
The residents have been stoutly objecting to construction of sheds without obtaining NOC from the panchayat, near Bethki primary health centre, for conducting commercial activities.
Addressing the media, Shamba Surlakar, accompanied by other concerned citizens, alleged that commercial activities have been going on since last four month at the illegal shed.
On April 22, this year, the agitating residents filed a complaint before the Director of Panchayats and the local panchayat, that one Sushant Tari, after constructing a compound wall around his plot and erecting three sheds on it, was allowing commercial activities without obtaining NOC from the panchayat.
The complaint also expressed fears that commercial activities in the locality would disturb the peace, as such the residents demanded shifting of the commercial activities to the industrial estate.
When contacted, Sarpanch Sudhiksha Khandolkar said that the panchayat has not issued any NOC to Sushant Tari either for constructing the sheds or conducting commercial activities on his plot. On receiving complaints from residents, the sarpanch said, she had issued a ‘stop-work’ notice. The panchayat would conduct a site inspection of the shed and take legal action, if necessary, she added.
Tari, in his reply to the panchayat notice, said that he was not involved in any commercial activities, but has erected sheds to store goods temporarily.
