Curtorim villagers are upset at the gram sabha having been made a respondent in an appeal filed by Ira Exotica with the Additional Director of Panchayats, South. They learnt of this when a group of villagers appeared before Additional Director of Panchayats at the hearing of the appeal.
Activist Abhijit Prabhudessai said this is perhaps the first time that the Additional Panchayat Director has made an entire gram sabha a respondent in a hearing concerning an appeal. “I am shocked and surprised that the entire gram sabha has been made a respondent in the appeal hearing when the panchayat represents the gram sabha of the village,” Prabhudessai told Herald.
Ira Exotica Pvt Ltd had challenged the notice issued by the Curtorim Panchayat asking the hotel promoter to show cause within 15 days why the construction licence granted for the project should not be kept in abeyance in terms of gram sabha resolution No 2/2(5) dated October 26.
In the appeal petition, the hotel promoter has called for setting aside the gram sabha resolution amongst other grounds that the gram sabha has no role to play with any subject other than the ones mentioned in the provision under section 6 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act and that the construction activities do not fall within the purview of section 6 of the Panchayat Raj Act.
While the hotel promoter has challenged the panchayat show cause notice relating to the gram sabha resolution opposing the project, Prabhudessai said the TCP’s show cause for revocation of the technical clearance is clear proof that the mandatory requirement of an eight metre wide road is not in existence on the ground.