MARGAO: The Verna gram sabha has demanded that the panchayat recover the revenue from the Verna Industrial Development Corporation. 

Since 2014, IDC has not paid the panchayat their share of the revenues collected from the industries falling in the village of Verna. 

According to the gram sabha members, the pending revenue is in the tune of a few crores. The secretary informed that all the villages in Goa have not received their share of the revenues from IDC. The gram sabha resolved to send a notice to IDC to release the funds.

The gram sabha members demanded that a drain and retaining wall be constructed at an illegal hill cutting site on Survey number 196/8. The site was a source of mud for the construction of the highway. The members demanded that the work start immediately so that it can be completed before the onset of the monsoon. The Sarpanch said that he would be writing to the TCP department since they have allowed them to cut the hill even though there was no permission from the panchayat.

The gram sabha discussed another case of illegal development on Survey Number 150 on Verna plateau. A gram sabha member had previously filed a complaint against the illegal construction of roads to plots being carried out in the property. The sarpanch said that he conducted an inspection and saw only plants. The Sarpanch issued a permit to the developer for the purpose of setting up a plant nursery. 

The gram sabha members were suspicious of the Sarpanch’s actions and questioned him that who would want to set up a plant nursery in the isolated area where there is no water available. The sarpanch said he would schedule another inspection.

The Verna Comunidade had also filed a complaint of trespassing since the Comunidade land was illegally used as road access. The Attorney informed that the police claim that there is no trespassing since the comunidade had not fenced their property.

Interestingly, the sarpanch refused to discuss another illegal development in the village. The gram sabha members had requested a discussion on the illegal open-air hall near Ambulor lake. The secretary stated that the matter cannot be discussed since the matter is before the Director of Panchayat and therefore was sub-judice.

This infuriated the gram sabha members since the Director of Pnachyaat is a quasi judicial authority and therefore cannot be considered as “court” proceedings and cannot hold anyone in contempt if the matter is discussed in the gram sabha.