Carmona locals refuse to accept the panchayat’s decision to grant a construction license for the Raheja housing project. They have sought the intervention of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
When informed that the panchayat had sought legal opinion and authorities like TCP had give permission, Carmona activist Serafino Cota recalled that the CM had earlier stated that permissions should come from the panchayat first and the TCP later. The villagers are set to meet on Sunday at 4 pm, following which they will voice their opposition to the panchayat at the gram sabha on September 13.
Serafino claimed that Carmona would become like Margao if the project was allowed and feared that 88 bungalows, with swimming pools and other facilities in the gated community, would create a divide in the village and make life difficult for the 100-odd Carmona families. He added that families from elite backgrounds would stay in those 88 bungalows and clash with the original Carmona residents.
He also stressed a need to find ways in which the project could be rejected and questioned the government’s logic behind granting license for the project. He quipped that in the end, it was the people’s government, and hence, it should listen to the people.
Serafino added that Carmona was too small to share its infrastructure with such a large housing project.
