Locals hold Velim P’yat accountable for ‘illegalities’ in Cutbona Jetty area

Gram sabha resolve to denotify the major district road from Velim to Muxir; want the area at the jetty to be developed with legal structures that help locals earn their livelihood
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Team Herald

MARGAO: The Velim gram sabha on Sunday witnessed heated debate with the members alleging that the panchayat body was accountable for the alleged illegal commercial structures in the Cutbona Jetty area.

The villagers resolved to denotify the major district road (MDR) from Velim to Muxir, indicating their commitment to local governance and development.

The gram sabha chaired by sarpanch Veena Cardozo saw significant participation from community members, who voiced their concerns about various issues affecting the village.

The villagers vent their ire over the alleged illegal structures that benefit only a select few while depriving others of their livelihood. They made it clear that they do not support these illegal constructions, emphasising their desire for equitable development that serves the entire community.

They said, “We want the area at the Cutbona jetty to be developed with legal structures that benefit the locals and help them earn their livelihood. The Fisheries Department should take action to facilitate this.”

Savio D'Silva, a villager, expressed frustration over the issue of illegal structures being constructed in the Cutbona jetty area.

He said, “Yes, the villagers have proposed that the locals should have access to business opportunities at the Cutbona jetty, as currently, only a few people profit significantly by renting out the illegally built structures.”

He voiced his opposition to the MDR from Velim to Muxir, asserting that it should be denotified to protect local interests.

He claimed that the local residents and their houses will be affected if the road from Velim to Muxir is notified as an MDR.

D’Silva also alleged that the panchayat had granted permission for a project that had previously been rejected, raising concerns about transparency and decision-making within the panchayat.

Sarpanch Veena said that the panchayat will write to the authorities concerned to denotify the road from Velim to Muxir as MDR. She mentioned that the issue of stray cattle was discussed during the gram sabha.

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