QUEPEM: Xeldem Panchayat gram sabha deliberating on two issues, one pertaining to the construction of volleyball court on an open space of Housing Board Colony and another incomplete project, which was opposed by the villagers earlier, failed to come up with concrete solutions.
The sabha started late due to the absence of observer. Before, the panchayat body could call off the meeting, locals insisted to carry on with it.
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Local youth present supported the construction of volleyball court, but residents of Housing Board Colony protested again. They said if the panchayat sticks to their decision they will go to the court.
Anil Prabhudesai said,”Residents of Housing Board Colony are opposed to the construction of volleyball court and have the right on the open space.”
“If the panchayat do not change stand on this, we will go for legal action,” he added.
Avish Desai alleged that the panchayat did not follow proper procedures that why the issue cropped up.
He said that the property belongs to the Housing Board Colony and the right to it belongs to the residents living there.
Sarpanch Caitan Lima said that the vacant space of the Housing Board Colony has been given to the panchayat and the body will take up the development work on the said land, whether it is a volleyball court or a children’s park, after taking a decision at the special meeting later.
Another issue raised was about the incomplete project in Ward 5 which was suspended by the panchayat since 2017 following opposition from the villagers. The incomplete work was taken into consideration by the panchayat at November 26 body meeting and decision was taken to restart the work.
Villagers opposed the project again and accused the panchayat of ordering the work to restart without taking them into confidence.
Villagers said that they oppose the project because of illegal activities.
A local Caitan Carvalho said that the work was stopped in 2017 due to illegality and now the panchayat decides to restart the work again without taking villagers into confidence.
Further, he said that if the panchayat do not clear their stand and revokes the project licence then they will take legal action.
In his reply, Sarpanch Lima said, “No decision has been taken yet on the project.”
“A decision on whether the project is legal will be taken after further investigation,” he added.
Panchayat Secretary Ravindra Wadikar said that both the issues have not been decided yet but the first one which is the subject of the Housing Board open space will be taken up after a special meeting of the panchayat members.
On the Ward No 5 project, Wadikar said that it was stopped due to disputes and the decision will be taken only after the inspection process to verify whether it is legal or illegal.
