PONDA: The sarpanchas of Borim, Kavlem and Quela have come out strongly against declaring their villages as urban areas.
Borim Sarpanch Bhavna Naik said that her villagers have already started opposing the notification declaring Borim as urban area. “The villagers have asked us to convene a special gram sabha to adopt a resolution opposing the government circular. We are with the villagers and will adopt the resolution at the special gram sabha.”
Bhavna’s deputy Sunil Sawakar said that once Borim is declared as urban area, villagers would be burdened and suffer due to urbanisation.
“The Panchayat is totally in the dark over the government notification declaring Borim as urban area. The government should have taken us into confidence before declaring the village a urban area,” he said.
Similarly, Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar is opposed to declaring Quela Panchayat as urban area. “We don’t want our village converted into concrete jungles due to urbanisation,” he said.
In recent notification, the government has included 56 panchayats in urban areas and this includes Borim.
Kavlekar alleged that the government wants to curtail the powers of panchayats.
“Before declaring a village as urban area, no infrastructure needs to be created which has not been done. The villagers have low income and urbanisation means they will have to pay more taxes. The builders lobby will be benefitted from the notification and the village agriculture land will be destroyed due to residential complexes and tall buildings. We want to preserve our village identity and greenery,” he said.
