Hotel project dominates Velim meet

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO:  The controversial hotel project dominated the proceedings of the adjourned gram sabha of Velim Panchayat on Sunday.
Members reiterated their demand for an inspection of the hotel project on grounds that the room capacity has been expanded by the owner and the project has encroached upon the water body. Incidentally, it was revealed during discussions that the hotel plan is not available in the Panchayat ghar, with agitated gram sabha members demanding to know whether the panchayat secretary had done any inventory of the panchayat documents.
Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches told the members that he has applied to the PWD for a copy of the original plan and made it clear that he would hold an inspection of the hotel project only after receiving the copy from the PWD. He also said that the inspection will be carried out jointly with the Captain of Ports since there’s an allegation of encroachment in the water body.
The gram sabha also decided to conduct a survey of migrants and tenants putting up in the village. The panchayat body had earlier passed a resolution to hold the survey and the gram sabha at today’s meeting gave its go ahead to the Panchayat to conduct the survey ward wise.
The meeting also resolved to revise the house tax and commercial tax by carrying an assessment of the households. It was pointed out that the last assessment was carried out way back in 1985 and members resolved to ask the Panchayat to conduct the assessment for revision of the house tax.