Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Following a report in Herald of an illegal hotel coming up in Umtawaddo, Calangute panchayat on Tuesday said it has decided to hand over the case to Vigilance Department.
Herald in its edition dated October 29 had reported that a three storey hotel was coming up in Umtawaddo on a NOC for repair and renovation of a compound wall.
Speaking to Herald, Calangute Sarpanch Anthony Menezes washed his hands off the NOC stating it was issued by the Secretary without his knowledge. “The application was received on 28/9/17 and meeting was held the next day wherein it was rejected but the secretary issued the NOC on 04/10/17 without our knowledge,” he said.
Menezes also alleged that the granting of house no. in survey no. 176/22 was handiwork of the previous panchayat by manipulating the registers. “We have got a lot of evidence to prove this and we charge that the previous panchayat has committed many such illegalities by creating a new register for the year 1992-93,” he charged.
He added that the panchayat has decided to hand over the case to Vigilance. “Let the truth come out and the people involved in the illegalities be brought to book,” he said.
The sarpanch also said that the NOC does not mean permission, as the owner has to get other permissions from the BDO. “NOC does not mean a licence, further permissions have to be sought from BDO etc,” he said adding that the panchayat cannot be blamed.
“We issued a stop work order for the project when we came to know about it,” he said.
When contacted former sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said he welcomes the move. “Let the truth come out, I welcome the move,” he said.
When pointed out that the Menezes was blaming the previous panchayat for manipulating records and granting house no. he said, “Let him prove it, we are ready for any investigations.” Sequeira said that the then secretary in a letter had admitted that house no. existed since 1982-83. “The certificate was issued by secretary and not us,” he said.
