Demand razing of hutments of construction workers
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: A group of Curtorim villagers on Monday demanded demolition of some hutments as well as revocation and cancellation of NOC issued by the village Panchayat for a shed built near the border with Sao Jose de Areal.
The residents led by Charles Barretto had planned a demonstration outside the Curtorim Panchayat ghar on Monday morning. However, when the residents assembled near the Panchayat Ghar, they found the Sarpanch conspicuous by her absence and later proceeded to the site for an inspection.
After the inspection, Barretto told the media that the villagers had objected to the NOC granted by the Panchayat for the construction of the shed at the two gram sabha meetings, but lamented that the Panchayat is yet to initiate action in the matter.
Moreover, he pointed out that around 20 hutments housing the construction labourers have come up at the site without any sanitation. “The inmates inhabiting the hutments are answering nature’s call in the open in the absence of toilet facilities”, he said, while demanding the demolition of the hutments immediately.
Besides, the residents also raised the issue of payment of one month’s rent by the owner who has sub-let the property for a monthly rent of Rs 53,000. “It is sad to say that the owner is only paying Rs 20,000 rent to the panchayat body when the rules demand payment of one month’s rent to the local body”, he said.
While demanding the immediate revocation of the NOC and demolition of the hutments, the residents have now threatened to lead a delegation to the Salcete BDO and the Deputy Collector for action in the matter. They have also planned to call on the Curtorim Health Centre in a day or two to initiate action against the hutments from the sanitary point of view.
