Guirim sabha discusses land filling, illegal constructions

Team Herald 

MAPUSA: The issue of illegal land filling and constructions cropping up in paddy fields was the topic of a hot debate at the Guirim gram sabha. 

Members demanded that the panchayat take necessary action to stop all the illegalities in the fields. They also questioned about the land filling opposite Namoshi High School and wondered whethere the panchayat had issued permissions to the violators.

 Sarpanch Sunny Kandolkar informed that the panchayat had already issued a notice to the concerned person and penalty was imposed on him and was directed clear the mess.

Albert Zuzarte, said that Guirim is losing its beauty and turning uglier with concrete constructions coming up in the village. 

Meanwhile, a group of villagers argued that constructions have come up in several other places including Morod, Mapusa, Saligao, Parra and wondered as to why objections were being raised against illegalities in Guirim fields.

They said that they were jobless and had put up shops to earn their daily bread.

The Sarpanch said that the action on land filling was already initiated by the office of deputy collector and people were issued show cause notices.

Water logging during monsoon also came up for discussion and members said that the panchayat did absolutely nothing to sort out the issue. 

“The road as well as the portion of the panchayat building gets submerged during the rains but the issue is never solved by the panchayat,” said the gram sabha members. 

They also pointed that traditional access to fields has been blocked as a result of which farmers were forced to abandon their lands. 

The gram sabha also objected to the diversion of Mhadei.

Savina Souza said,” There is rampant land filling and constructions coming up in  Guirim. The village witnesses flooding every monsoon and if we keep on filling the fields then where the rain water will go? There is no proper drainage system or nullah, she charged.

Souza also called on the panchayat to carry out a tenant verification drive on an urgent basis keeping the safety of senior citizens in mind.