Team Herald
PONDA: Bandora Sarpanch Ramchandra Naik on Friday demanded that Director of Panchayat should issue official notification with regard to withdrawal of circular curbing panchayat power on issuance of construction licences.
He said, “15 days ago Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho declared to withdraw it. But in the absence of notification withdrawing that circular we can’t take decision on many pending construction work files.
“There are many applicants whose files for multi-dwelling which were put on hold by the panchayat pending government approval are approaching the panchayat asking why files are pending after government withdraw circular,” he said.
Ramchandra said, “We enquired with the BDO about withdrawal of circular and he said no written order had come on it. Thus in the absence of notification withdrawing that circular we can’t take decision on pending construction files.”
He said, “Many applicants confront us for keeping their construction files pending after reading news about government withdrawing circular curbing Panchayat powers.”
It may be recalled that facing criticism from various quarters, including panchayat bodies and the Opposition Congress, the State government withdrew the controversial circular asking that all files of multi-dwelling unit constructions be routed to the government through Block Development Officers (BDOs).
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho declared that the circular has been withdrawn as the government puts in place a proper waste management mechanism and the Director of Panchayats puts in place a technical team to look into the matter.
“We are giving panchayats a second chance to get more serious on the garbage issue. The circular was brought in with a single point agenda of asking panchayats to put their act together in dealing with the garbage issue,” he had said while declaring withdrawal.
It may be recalled that the DoP had issued a circular asking all panchayat secretaries to route the applications seeking construction licences or occupancy certificates for the projects having more than four dwelling units – multi-dwelling residential projects or commercial projects having 200 square metres and more built-up area to the government through block development officers (BDOs).
