Team Herald
CURCHOREM: Members of St Alex Citizens Forum, Xeldem-Tilamol, agitated on Sunday demanding suspension of the panchayat secretary and dismissal of sarpanch for dereliction of duties under the Goa Panchayat Act, 1968.
Speaking to media persons, Xeldem local Menino Fernandes informed that there was no public road but a private road passing through their property bearing survey No 18/12, 18/22 which is shown by the builder to construct his commercial/residential building in survey No 142/7-A.
According to Fernandes, in 2013, a private party applied for construction licence and later it was sent to Quepem Town and Country Planning department for their technical clearance and subsequently a licence was granted without taking into consideration the required infrastructure availability on site like garbage collection, sewer system and the mandatory six metres access road.
“When the illegalities brought to the notice of the panchayat in 2014, ‘stop work’ order was issued, but the work continued despite the order. Therefore, the residents again complained to the panchayat, but no action was taken against the builder,” Fernandes said.
He informed that the building property was subsequently sold to another builder knowing that a case was pending before the Deputy Director of Panchayat, Margao.
Fernandes also informed that the villagers had addressed a letter to TCP on November 7, 2017, seeking a joint inspection of the site along with village panchayat officials but to their surprise they received a letter from Deputy Town Planner informing that the joint inspection was held in November 30, 2017 and further directing them to submit the relevant documents supporting that there is no public road and the road which is shown in the plan is private road in the private property and also directed the panchayat and builders to submit their documents to support their claims.
It is learnt that the panchayat did not respond, but the builder responded saying that the road in question does exist and the same was tarred by PWD, and therefore it is a public road.
However, the residents produced documents to prove that the PWD has not acquired any land in the area, as such, there was no public road passing through the above mentioned survey numbers.
Later, in February 2018, the residents lodged a complaint at the Quepem police station against the sarpanch and panchayat secretary for constructing the gutters in their property without permission.
The residents also informed that they have informed about the illegalities to the Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai who reportedly assured them to look into the matter.
The villagers have warned that if the authorities fail to take action, they would move the High Court for relief.
When contacted, Sarpanch Pramod Gauns Desai said that they have given the permission based on the permission given by the TCP. However, Deputy Town Planner Vinod Kumar Chandra said that the technical clearance was old and was given by the earlier officer and that he has not given them completion order. “I have been transferred now from this office and a new officer will take charge and would look into the case,” Kumar informed.
