MARGAO, SEPT 8
Colva Panchayat suffered a major setback when its plan to build a football ground-cum-Panchayat ghar in low lying area opposite the Church has run into rough weather.
Panchayat plan to take up filling of the low-lying land admeasuring around 30,000 sq mts has not found favour with the Town Planning department.
In a letter to the Panchayat, Chief Town Planner Morad Ahmad has rejected the Panchayat proposal for land filling. “The proposal has been scrutinized by officials of the TCP department and found that the filling cannot be allowed as the land is catchment area. It is a main drainage which has potential to create flooding during heavy rainfall. Hence, the proposal is rejected”, the Chief Town Planner told the Panchayat body.
The low lying land opposite the Church was acquired by the Panchayat to set up infrastructure projects, including a football ground, Panchayat ghar et al.
Deputy Sarpanch Anthony (Mama) Fernandes said that besides the football ground and Panchayat ghard, the Panchayat had planned to utilize the land for a cattle pound and parking for the Church.
“The Panchayat is aware that the Chief Town Planner has rejected the proposal for land filling. We now intend to place the matter before the Gram Sabha for an appropriate decision. Let the gram Sabha tell what action the Panchayat should take now in view of the TCP decision”, he said.
Colva Civic and Consumer Forum secretary Judith Almeida, however, expressed satisfaction that the Chief Town Planner has rejected the Panchayat proposal for land filling.
“The Chief Town Planner gave a just decision. This has to be appreciated”, Almeida said, adding that land filling of the low lying acquired land — which acts as a water nullah and main drainage — would have spelt ecological disaster”, Almeida added.
