Move to develop and sell one lakh square metres of land originally belonging to the Bandora communidade has been opposed by the locals who have issued warning to the prospective buyers to buy the property at their own risk
Residents of Bandora-Ponda involved in a three-year struggle against the sub-division of a land at Farmagudi-Ponda have a sharp warning to customers interested in the controversial land: Buy property at your own peril.
According to locals, one lakh square metres of land originally belonging to the Bandora communidade have been fraudulently sold to a private party.
“The land is grazing ground and it has been also identified on the proposed regional plan 2021. The land is a no-developmental zone and we are determined to fight against the illegalities that have been done in connivance with a politician and authorities,” said Govind Gaude from Bandora.
Gaude has been spearheading the agitation since the last three years and has argued the developer would not have undertaken work in the controversial land without the tacit support of authorities and a politician.
“Three years back, we had raised objection soon after we came to know of the proposed plan to develop the land. The panchayat had also revoked NOC granted to the development work. We had even written to various authorities, but to no avail. After we raised our voices, the work had stopped for some time. But since July last year, work has been resumed by a developer,” said Gaude.
Determined to stop the project, residents along with Bandora panchayat members recently stopped ongoing work to construct a temporary road in the controversial land at Farmagudi.
“This is grazing land and the panchayat had revoked the NOC given to develop the area. I don’t understand who has undertaken the work and how was it done,” said Bandora Sarpanch Sulaksha Naik, after stopping the work at Farmagudi.
Added Gaude, “The road is illegal and this is established under information obtained through RTI Act. Authorities must act swiftly before it’s too late. We will continue our agitation to protect the land. I also urge people not to invest or buy property in this area as they will end up losing their hard-earned money.”
The issue has also been debated during the Gram Sabha, with villagers strongly objecting to any developmental work in the area.
Villagers have also passed resolutions demanding not to issue any NOC’s to the project and the panchayat body has also assured to stand by the villagers demand.
During one such Gram Sabha, residents had also demanded to demolition of the approach road to the property.
