MARGAO: The Aquem Baixo gram sabha on Sunday opposed government’s decision to notify the village as urban area.
It may be recalled that the government has notified 56 villages from nine talukas as urban areas with Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco already opposed to notifying Curtorim and Raia villages as urban areas.
The gram sabha discussed and resolved to oppose the classification of their village to urban area.
Opposing government’s policy of indirect urbanisation of the village, former sarpanch Siddesh Bhagat said this is going to benefit the builder lobby and not the common man as after this policy the FAR will increase.
“And looking at the present scenario, the villages are not well equipped to take more pressure when it comes to electricity and water supply as the system has remained the same for the past 30 years. Looking at the present situation of the government it will remain the same for coming years, which will burden the people,” he said.
The gram sabha members said this urbanisation policy will simply increase the house taxes without any reason or facilities. “Our village is good as village and let it continue as it is. If possible, provide us with better facilities or development in a simple way,” he added.
Sarpanch Subhash Saterdekar assured to take people into confidence with regards to the mobile tower. The discussion followed the passing of the annual budget.
Meanwhile, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco in his post on Social media said “I won’t allow either Curtorim or Raia to be made urban areas. We want our villages and we have maintained them not for the government to do what they want. Our people’s wishes are supreme over any other planning”.
