Bedlam at Penha-da-Franca meet over encroachment on open spaces
TEAM HERALD
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PORVORIM: Noisy scenes were witnessed at the Gram Sabha of Penha-da-Franca Panchayat on Sunday, as residents complained about encroachment on open spaces in the village.
At the meeting, the residents argued that if the panchayat did not take strict action against the encroachers, then all open spaces in the village would vanish.
In his reply, the panchayat secretary explained that when anyone encroaches on open spaces, the panchayat is expected to issue a notice to the party under Section 73 of Panchayat Act.
If a response is not received within 15 days, a second notice is to be issued and a penalty of Rs 500 and a fine of Rs 10 per day is imposed on the party, which is then followed by a third notice, the secretary said.
Stating that this process is time-consuming, a resident, Olavo Braganza, suggested that the panchayat should construct compound walls around open spaces to prevent encroachments.
Another resident, Agnel Pereira, stated that an owner had converted a residential house into commercial premises and the commercial activities had become a nuisance to residents in the locality. He demanded that the panchayat revoke the NOC given to house.
Anil Borkar pointed out that only four of the 11 panch members were present in the Gram Sabha. Stating that one panch is a habitual absentee, Bikhu Sawant stated that the panchayat should intimate the Directorate of Panchayats those panchas who remain absent at the Gram Sabhas.
Some villagers requested the panchayat to the name a road in the village after Swami Vivekanand.
