Team Herald
MARGAO: Carmona villagers are annoyed at the authorities’ lethargic attitude in the Raheja issue and the panchayat’s decision to hold a regular meeting on various issues instead of a special one for only the Raheja matter on October 3.
A few days ago, the locals – and panch Prisco Rodrigues through a formal letter – had demanded a meeting for only the Raheja issue. An under-fire panchayat secretary informed them that he would personally convene the meeting, where they would discuss the objections against the Raheja project with the view of deciding whether to revoke the construction licence.
It is to be noted that secretary had admitted his failure to even look at Prisco’s letter or the 12-point resolution of the villagers submitted to the panchayat on September 13.
The villagers are upset that the panchayat meeting is just a regular monthly meeting, where the objections to the Raheja project are only a small part of the three-page agenda displayed on the panchayat’s notice board.
The Raheja-related agenda consists of the objections of the Carmona Village Social Welfare Forum to the construction licence, Village Committee (VC) spokesperson Socorro Miranda’s objections to the Raheja project in CRZ areas in Tamdeg ward and the resurveying of the allegedly landlocked property of Agnelo Machado.
The meeting will also take up panch Carlos Jorge’s written applications to immediately convene a gram sabha and Rodrigues’ request to convene the special meeting and to review his objection letter filed on September 13. While locals are not allowed to participate in the discussions, they can attend the meeting.
Carmona locals also hope to meet the Salcete Block Development Officer (BDO) with the panchayat secretary to see if an immediate stop work order can be sent to Raheja. They have vowed to monitor all developments and will protest if the authorities try to bypass them again.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva reiterated the villagers’ demand that the construction licence granted by the panchayat be revoked immediately and has asked the ministers to treat the matter as urgent. He has also pointed out that the people have been holding peaceful protests and urged the government to take cognisance of their sentiments and the objections raised at the public meeting.
The locals and VC plan to strengthen their agitation against Rahejas through protests, while it remains to be seen when the BDO will set a date for the election of a new sarpanch. Presently, the six-member panchayat is divided on the issue; three panchas have announced their support to the public in the last week.
