MARGAO: Following a complaint by villagers, the Town and Country Planning Department, Village Panchayat of Sao Jose de Areal and Block Development Office on Friday conducted an inspection of a proposed housing project in Survey Number No 18/1 at Sao Jose de Areal.
The villagers gathered at the site and demanded all construction licences provided to the land developer be revoked and urged that the area be identified for public utility.
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A tense situation was witnessed during the inspection, after villagers targetted the concerned authorities and accused the panchayat body regarding the issue.
In the morning, the village panchayat along with TCP and PWD held an inspection at the site, and later in the evening the Block Development Office conducted a second inspection following a complaint of the villagers.
It may be recalled that the villagers led by Tenny Paul Fernandes, Joycee Dias and others had demanded that the panchayat should revoke all the construction licences and provisional/final approvals. The villagers had also alleged that there had been illegal construction done by the land developers.
Paritosh Fal Dessai, BDO, Salcete in his notice issued to all the concerned parties has stated that he had received a complaint alleging illegal construction and demanded necessary action against the same.
Speaking to the media, Joycee alleged that the village panchayat, including the local panch member, is keeping the villagers in the dark over the issue.
“It was the duty of the panchayat and the local panch to inform the villagers anything related to the village. However, the panchayat body has given permission for the plots and compound wall without making people aware. Panchayat had not even bothered to call a gram sabha in order to deliberate the issue,” she said.
She further said that this land should be utilised for the betterment of the villagers, and not for any other purpose.
Another villager, Nazareth Fernandes said the villagers are opposed to the housing project at the site.
“Earlier days we used to cultivate paddy on this land. However, now the panchayat has given the NOC for the housing project and that too without taking the villagers into confidence,” he alleged.
He also informed that in 2021 then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had assured the villagers that this land will be developed as a playing ground but nothing has been done thereafter.
