Kiosk comes up on Sanguem municipal land overnight

Kiosk comes up on Sanguem municipal land overnight 
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
SANGUEM, DEC 7
Citizens from Sanguem are surprised over an alleged illegal kiosk constructed overnight on Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) owned land, barely about 10 mtrs away from the council building.
According to sources, the kiosk is allegedly constructed by a local to run dairy business. But what surprises the locals is the fact that the construction was undertaken by taking advantage of holiday on Saturday and Sunday.
Incidentally, despite the alleged illegal construction was undertaken much under the nose of some ruling councillors, the councillors failed in initiating any action in the matter.
When contacted a councillor in the ruling group, he claimed that the previous council had granted permission to the local to construct the kiosk and that they have no say in the matter.
“It is as per the decision given by the previous council that the local has constructed the kiosk and as such, it cannot be termed as illegal,” remarked the councillor.
Incidentally when contacted an ex-councillor, who was member of the ruling group in the outgoing council, denied that the previous council granted any permission for the construction of kiosk in the municipal property.
The said councillor however informed that at one meeting the issue of one local having applied for construction of kiosk in the municipal property had come for discussion and the council had resolved for construction of kiosk in the municipal-owned land.
But the ex-councillor reiterated the decision taken by the outgoing council claiming the resolution passed by the council to be not final.
The resolution needs to be forwarded to the Director of Municipal Administration for approval and only after having obtained the permission, the resolution takes shape.
“In the instant case, no such approval is obtained,” alleged the ex-councillor and as such demanded for strict action against the officials and councillors involved in allowing the alleged illegal construction.
However, efforts to contact the SMC Chief Officer proved futile as he did not remain present in the office on Monday and neither could be contacted on phone as his phone was out of coverage area.
It may be recalled that some four years ago, two youth from the locality had procured kiosks under ‘Din Dayal Rojgar Yojana’ and sought NOC from SMC to install kiosk in the municipal area, but the council refused the youth request allegedly on the ground that the same is objected by the existing traders within the municipal area who feared of themselves running into losses.
The citizens now are surprised over the council remaining mum over the alleged illegal construction of kiosk in the municipal area and that too barely about 10 mtrs from the council building. Some aggrieved citizens have urged for immediate action in the matter as the construction of the kiosk defies the order of the High Court.