TEAM HERALD
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MERCES: Chimbel Gram Seva Kala ani Sanskrutik Sangh (CGSKSS) and farmers have threatened to stop the work on the construction of a culvert at Indira Nagar, Chimbel, as they fear that it will lead to further destruction of fields due to flow of garbage and sewage from Indira Nagar slum.
However, following an assurance from St Cruz MLA Babush Monserrate that he would ensure the construction of a nullah in such a way that sewage doesn’t enter the fields, the CGSKSS members were pacified and disbursed from the site.
Trouble began when CGSKSS members and farmers asked the labourers to stop the culvert work. However, Indira Nagar Panch Mohan Narve questioned their authority while asking the labourers to continue. This angered the CGSKSS members who got into a verbal duel with the panch and questioned his authority to confront them.
The CGSKSS members then summoned Deputy Sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar and Panchayat Secretary Rajendra Gawas and urged them to issue stop work order as the panchayat was not intimated over the construction work undertaken in the village, which they said is mandatory.
Later, JE Chandran arrived at the site and tried to pacify the villagers, who were however in no mood to listen and demanded that the culvert work be stopped till their issues were redressed.
Just when things were getting out of hand, St Cruz MLA Babush Monserrate arrived at the site and after listening to the grievances of the villagers, assured that he will direct the WRD officials to build a nullah so that sewage does not enter the fields.
“I am a man who keeps my promise,” he informed, when a CGSKSS member cast aspersion on the credibility of his assurance and said that the problem has been existing since the past 20 years and cannot be solved overnight.
Later, Monserrate summoned WRD AE Nazareth Vaz and directed him to come up with a plan to build a nullah without affecting the fields.
After lengthy discussion, Monserrate then decided to convene a meeting of the WRD officials and the PWD officials to survey the area, on Monday, so that the best possible solution could be worked out. He also invited the CGSKSS members to contribute their opinion over the issue.
Speaking to Herald, CGSKSS secretary Tukaram Kunkolkar said they opposed the culvert construction for the simple fact that fields have been destroyed when there was a small drainage through which the sewage and garbage of Indira Nagar flowed into the fields. “Now, with the construction of a culvert, it will lead to further destruction,” he added.
Blaming the Indira Nagar slum for the problem, Kunkolkar said the authorities should first control the population spurt, which is growing by the day as hordes of migrants are making Indira Nagar their home.
“Illegal activities are undertaken in broad daylight and authorities prefer to keep mum,” he added while urging the MLA and the VP authorities to take stern action in the matter.
Support sought for progress
MERCES: The culvert issue brought St Cruz MLA Babush Monserrate and Chimbel Deputy Sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar face-to-face after a long time, with the MLA requesting co-operation of the panchayat to undertake overall development of Chimbel.
“Let’s keep politics aside and work for the betterment of the village,” Monserrate told Kunkolkar while urging him to forward the proposals of the panchayat so that he can use his good office to get the works done.
Assuring his co-operation to the MLA, Kunkolkar said the panchayat has sent many proposals in the past and will continue to do so.
Meanwhile, Kunkolkar told Herald that the panchayat will soon serve notices to all illegal activities undertaken in the village, a demand which was made in the recent gram sabha.
