TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Residents from Tariwada-Durbhat have accused the local panchayat of delaying action against a controversial construction at Tariwada, thereby enabling a party to construct a toilet barely within 11 mtrs from a well.
According to the Naik Lotlikar family, the panchayat was first intimated on April 22 when the construction work of the toilet was in progress. “We use the well water for drinking and other household purposes. We rely heavily on the well and if the toilet is built, it will pollute the water,” stated the complaint letter.
Subsequently, the panchayat issued stop work orders and asked the party concerned to submit necessary licence, plans or documents, if any, for constructing the toilet. However, the complainant claimed that the work did not stop.
On May 4, acting on the complaint from the Naik Lotlikar family, the Community Health Center Ponda conducted an inspection.
“It was noticed that the construction work of a toilet is in process and there is well within a distance of 11 mtrs. This is highly objectionable from the sanitary point of view as there is possibility of sub soil water getting contaminated,” stated the Ponda CHC letter to the panchayat based on the findings of the inspection report.
“This office has not issued any No Objection Certificate (NOC) to construct the toilet and hence you are requested to stop the construction immediately,” added the letter.
According to information, the Naik Lotlikar family again complained on May 6, but the panchayat acted and conducted inspection only after Ponda BDO directed the panchayat to take necessary action.
On June 7, the panchayat conducted an inspection. “The construction license for the structure is not obtained from the panchayat,” stated the inspection report.
“Further, adequate distance was not maintained from the toilet, the structure has now been completed and covered with RCC slab and the soak pit for the toilet is not visible,” stated the findings.
However, unhappy over panchayat’s alleged delay to take action, the Naik Lotlikar family with about 111 signatories has now written to Chief Minister Manohar Pareikar to take necessary action. Efforts to contact Durbhat Sarpanch Ganapat Naik proved futile.
