TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The villagers of Sao Jose de Areal have strongly condemned the proposal to change the use of 63,605 sqm of prime agricultural land for real estate.
The villagers opposed the proposed a group housing project in the village on 83 plots and a commercial centre/community centre as it threatens the very existence of the village.
After holding deliberations and consultations, it was unanimously decided by the villagers that an extra-ordinary gram sabha be convened immediately to discuss the most important matter. As many as 1535 villagers have written to the village panchayat demanding that an extra-ordinary gram sabha be held on Sunday, September 26, to discuss the issue. The copy of the letter is also submitted to the Salcete Block Development Officer (BDO), Margao. The residents are supported by local organisations Sao Jose De Areal Villagers Union and Scheduled Tribe Association, Sao Jose De Areal.
According to the villagers, the land on which the project is proposed was approved to be acquired for construction of multipurpose sports and cultural activities centre and open, indoor and outdoor stadium and academy for the village, since there is no single football ground or sports facility presently.
The village panchayat and the TCP department had granted all approvals for this proposal in 2012 to 2014. However, construction of sheds and compound wall was seen to have commenced on the land about a month ago, with no prior information being made available to the villagers.
After collecting information under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, the villagers were shocked to see that permission are granted by the TCP and the village panchayat for construction of a compound wall and sub-division of the land (but not for the sheds), in clear violation of their earlier approvals and resolutions. The villagers immediately wrote to the village panchayat pointing out that the sheds were constructed illegally and without permissions and that the permission granted for the wall and sub-division of land should be revoked, but the village panchayat has failed to act until today, they said.
