Aquem sabha demands notice to builder of mega project

Aquem sabha demands notice to builder of mega project
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 21
The Aquem Baixo gram sabha on Sunday demanded that the panchayat issue a show cause notice of a builder at Goraksheewadi to stop the mega housing project with immediate effect.
The gram sabha member also adopted a resolution asking the Panchayat to re-auction the Panchayat shops as per rules.
At the gram sabha meeting held on Sunday, the mega housing project coming up on land admeasuring around 40,000 square meters dominated the meeting with agitated members demanding an immediate stop to the project.
Members pointed out that the housing project is coming up in a low lying area and raised apprehensions that the entire area will be inundated during monsoons.. The members recalled the decision of the gram sabha not to permit filling up of low lying area in the village.
The project was also opposed on grounds that the existing infrastructure in the village fall short of the requirements, with members contending that the project would only compound the problems relating to water supply, power and garbage disposal.
Some members also demanded to know from the Panchayat body whether the land in question is tenanted one or not. They demanded that the Panchayat make available the records of the land in question, including the orders from the District Collector to ascertain the status of the land.
It was pointed out that the even the High court had recently directed some of the village Panchayats not to issue occupancy certifications to projects if the Panchayats have failed to provide garbage disposal facility.
After much discussions, the gram sabha told the Sarpanch to issue the show cause notice to the owner of the project by next week.
Meanwhile, gram sabha members pointed out that the shops leased by the Panchayat body has not been re-auctioned by the body since the last 12 years.
Members pointed out that rules mandates the Panchayat to auction the shops every three years, with one member claiming that one of the shops has been transferred in violation of the rules.