TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The builder involved in a housing project near Our Lady of Rosary Chapel in Bamborda-Verna has dismissed various allegations by locals, including the threat to an adjacent chapel due to excavation of mud.
Responding to criticisms by locals which were recently reported in the Herald, Pareen Naik of Porvorim, who holds the power of attorney for the property owners, insisted that the project is totally legal, which is backed by all necessary permissions and licences, besides supporting orders of two courts.
Speaking to Herald, Naik stated that despite possessing various licences and approvals, the Verna panchayat was reluctant to issue a construction licence, in view of reservations by villagers at the Gram Sabha and a possible conflict with religious harmony surrounding an adjacent chapel.
“I was forced to file an appeal with the Additional Director of Panchayats (ADP), who allowed the appeal and directed the Verna panchayat secretary to issue a construction licence within seven days,” said Naik.
“The ADP pointed out that the proposed building had been approved by the Town Planner and hence, neither the Gram Sabha nor the village panchayat could sit over the decision of the town planner.”
“Disputing the claims of villagers that the project would affect religious harmony, the ADP felt that apprehensions were being raised without any merit in the allegations,” Naik added.
Unhappy over the ADP order, the Verna panchayat then challenged the ADP’s order before the district judge in South Goa. The district judge, however, upheld the order of the ADP and discarded the objections of the residents.
Repudiating the allegations by locals that excavation of mud had exposed the main water pipeline and had threatened the chapel, Naik clarified that the water pipeline is in different property from the construction project.
“The site of excavation is at a lower level and away from the elevated property, through which the water pipeline runs. Therefore, by no stretch of imagination can the excavation damage the water pipeline,” insisted Naik.
Naik also sought to refute Rosary Chapel Committee President Manuel Fernandes’ complaint with Verna panchayat on January 12 regarding hill cutting on the right side of the chapel and that, the Verna police had failed to register an FIR against the contractor.
“The true facts are that an inspection was carried out by the Town and Country Planning department, Margao. The Town Planner (Margao) wrote a letter dated February 2 to the Verna Police, categorically stating that the activity did not attract Section 17A of TCP Act and that, no fresh cutting of any sloped land was seen from the existing condition at the site.” “Therefore, upon investigation, it turned out that the complaint dated January 12 was false,” said Naik.
He also rejected allegations that workers at the construction site were dirtying the area and causing inconvenience to people going for Mass.
“Till date, there are around 6-8 workers at the site, who do not stay at the site. The workers possess health cards, police verification. There is also barricading on the chapel as well as by the roadside. Therefore, there is no possibility of workers dirtying the area,” Naik said.
Naik also hit out at allegations by villagers that the panchayat’s advocate had not represented the case properly and that, the advocate had colluded with the builder.
“Court cases have been decided on merits after considering all objections raised by the panchayat and on their behalf. In fact, every attempt has been made to stall the proposed project, which has been thwarted by the courts. The claim that the panchayat advocate is hand in gloves with the builder is downright false, baseless and defamatory,” claimed Naik.
