Benaulim VP competent to verify question of ownership: sarpanch

Benaulim VP competent to verify question of ownership: sarpanch
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MARCH 31  
The Benaulim Panchayat has refuted all allegations made by the Principal of St Anne’s High School, Benaulim and asserted that the Panchayat is competent to verify the question of ownership before the issue of a construction license.
In a statement, Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes has said the Panchayat is legally empowered as per TCP rule 6 wherein the TCP itself has said the ownership has to be verified by the Panchayat body.
Referring to the allegations made by the school principal Cristavo Vas Falcao, she said the school principal has no right to ask for a construction license without making provision for parking facilities.
Carmelina has said the Panchayat had only asked the TCP to reconsider the TCP approvals so as to clarify the parking position approved for 1800 students as the present building is allegedly shown to be built on earlier school building parking. “Does the Panchayat not even have this much power to verify the position”, she asked.
Terming as false the statement by the Principal that documents are submitted to the Panchayat body as per rules and regulations, the Sarpanch said there is no conversion sanad for the building. “The proposed undertaking to demolish the house/building for parking is not shown and the present proposed building is shown to be built on earlier school building parking”, she said.
The sarpanch said there is no question of a stalemate between the Panchayat and the school as stated by the school Principal, saying the legal proceedings are not yet over as there is also a resolution to reject the approvals and the same has to be challenged.