TEAM HERALD
CORTALIM: Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to reject the application of ‘Competent Automobiles’ for construction of 236 rooms resort and restaurant.
Initiating the debate, Dr Marconi Correia informed that the panchayat NOC issued in 2006 is fraudulent and without authority and that the panchayat shall initiate proceedings to declare the NOC null and void and also initiate criminal action against the past secretary.
Highlighting the major issues plaguing the project, Dr Correia said as per the TCP circular, major projects can be granted license only if there was a minimum 15-metre wide road from MDR to the project which was non-existent.
Similarly, Correia said there was no waste management in place in the panchayat to handle solid waste and garbage which was mandatory. Making a presentation, the villagers were shown the site which was proposed for the hotel project and the villagers were warned that fields, lakes, water drains in this eco-fragile zone will be adversely affected which would bring misery to the villagers. “Already the peace and tranquillity has been disturbed by the two existing resorts,” claimed Dr Correia.
The villagers also rejected the proposal of the hotelier to provide toilets and other goodies saying that the villagers were not dependent on them.
Later, the gram sabha based on the suggestion of Sheila Gracias decided to refer the file to the village bio-diversity committee and also directed the secretary and the sarpanch to inform the hotelier and other authorities of all the steps taken in respect of the project.
Later, Deputy Sarpanch Baylon Gomes expressed surprise that NOCs from various departments including MoEF, Forest department, consent to establish, TCP and other authorities had been issued to the hotelier.
The gram sabha also vehemently opposed the Mopa airport and some villagers signed the resolution with their blood to express their opposition.
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We are on right side of law: Hotelier
Claiming total transparency of their proposed hotel project at Arossim, Amit Gupta representing ‘Competent Automobiles’ said they have all the licences and are open to public scrutiny. “We have CRZ clearances (dated 11/04/2013) from MoEF, GSPCB NOC (20/08/2014), NOC from WRD and TCP, Sanad from collector, electricity, health and water NOCs. We have paid infrastructure tax amounting to Rs 1.64 crore, Rs 1.59 crore towards Sanad fees and a provisional NOC from Cansaulim Panchayat issued in 2006,” Gupta told Herald. “However, after getting all the clearances and after having applied for construction licence, I was surprised to receive a show-cause notice from the panchayat this month informing that the NOC issued by panchayat in 2006 appeared to be a fake, since the resolution was not recorded in the panchayat book. How can we answer for someone’s act of which we are not a part,” asked Gupta while adding that the panchayat should probe into their own functioning if any mistake has been committed by them and that they (project) are in no way responsible. When asked to comment about the general fears raised by the locals, especially pertaining to garbage menace and access to the beach, Gupta assured that the garbage would be treated at source. “We will be composting the garbage for garden manure while a 10-metre beach access as shown on the plan will be developed before the hotel becomes functional. We are open to anyone who has genuine concerns,” he said.
