Chimbel locals divided on project near Chimbelkarin well

Chimbel locals divided on project near Chimbelkarin well
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MERCES, JAN 9
The Chimbel gram sabha on Sunday witnessed a heated exchange over a project near the Devi Chimbelkarin well with some villagers fearing that the project will spell doom for the well which is being revered for centuries by the locals.
Others supporting the project asked the panchayat authorities to see to it that the builder preserves the well and keeps the tradition alive.
Initiating the discussion, villager Nagesh Bodke sought an explanation from the panchayat why it has stopped the project and chided those opposing the project as spreading false rumours in the village that the well has already been filled with mud for construction activity.
Nagesh further said that the plot owner is only trying to revive the past tradition by re-building the house that existed decades ago and in which house Devi Chimbelkarin was brought first when she visited the Chimbel village.
Nagesh then suggested that the panchayat should give a go-ahead to the project provided the construction plan adheres to the norms and also preserves the well.
However, Tukaram took exception to Nagesh’s suggestion and said that the project consists of 12 flats and giving license to the project would result in contempt of court since the High Court has already passed a judgment that the panchayat should seek permission from it before giving nod to any project beyond 10 tenements.
Tukaram further said that the assurance of the builder to preserve the well would never be kept and he feared that once the project comes up it would lead to contamination of the well due to the construction of sewage and septic tanks.
On these two grounds, Tukaram made an appeal to the panchayat not to give license for the project.
Replying to the discussion, Sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar, however had a different opinion and said that the villagers are resorting to silly excuses to halt the project.
He further said that the project would only help in reviving the past heritage of the village as the owner would not only preserve the well but also construct a separate hall for keeping the idol of Devi Chimbelkarin when it visits the village.
On the issue of 12 flats, the sarpanch said that the panchayat would first study the project and ask the owner to reduce the number of flats keeping in view the HC order. However, Chandrakant fell short of giving a personal assurance that the well would be preserved.
When Tukaram questioned the sarpanch whether the project has already been issued license, Chandrakant replied in the negative. However, to the surprise of everybody, Tukaram informed that under RTI reply, the panchayat has itself mentioned that the license has been issued, to which the sarpanch informed that NOC has been issued to phase-I of the project.
Later, Tukaram raked up the issue of health city and demanded to know what steps the panchayat has taken to see that the health city is not set up at Kadamba Plateau.
Sarpanch Chandrakant said that the panchayat has already sought the help of the local MLA Victoria Fernandes, who had assured to take up the issue in the forthcoming Assembly.
“In the last Assembly, the issue could not be taken up as the Assembly got over,” Chandrakant said and added that the MLA has assured that she would take up the issue yet again in the forthcoming Assembly session.