PONDA: Mangueshi villagers helped the panchayat authorities demolish an illegal construction of a mega project coming up at Veling Priol, Cuncoliem on Tuesday.
In a daylong agitation, the villagers took out a morcha, staged demonstrations outside six government offices. Getting no response, they finally took law into their own hands and went ahead to demolish the illegal construction in plots of Survey No 37 and 38.
Taking a legal step under Section 66 of the Panchayat Act which gives full power for the panchayat body to demolish any illegalities, the villagers broke the fence, gate and cleared the hot mixed roads in the 2.74 lakh square metres area of the mega project. At the gram sabha on April 24, it was decided to lead a morcha to the offices of the Dy Collector, BDO, Ponda Mamlatdar, TCP, RFO and Ponda Police Station. The panchayat was trying to get the authorities to act on the illegal construction for the past 90 days.
Putting the gram sabha resolution into action, the villagers marched to all the government offices on Tuesday. However, getting only evasive response from the authorities, they finally took the step of demolishing the illegal construction themselves.
Trade Union leader Adv Raju Mangeshkar, who is also a local of Mangueshi, led the morcha shouting slogans against the mega project.
“We treat our hills and nature like god. We cannot accept a private land builder lobby introducing a mega project with the help of goondas and without obtaining any permission from the government authorities,” said Mangeshkar.
He alleged that the project is destroying source of ground water and an agricultural land of around 2.74 lakh metres is being converted into 300 plots. He said that the sale deed of 100 plots is done illegally.
He asked the buyers to take back money from builders as the villagers will never allow their hills to be destroyed. For the past days rampant hill cutting is going on and no action was being taken to stop the illegalities.
He alleged that a BJP MLA was behind this project due to which no authorities were willing to act. He asked Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar and Minister Deepak Davalikar to clear their stand on the illegal activities going on in many parts in Ponda including this mega project.
Veling Priol Sarpanch Damodar Naik said 11 panchas supported the drive which the panchayat was planning for many days.
“No NOC has been given for any construction. We will take law into hands to stop illegalities. Inspection of illegal report was sent by panchayat to all authorities, including chief minister but no action has been taken,” said Naik. The Deputy Collector only filed a complaint with the police who have failed to act, he said.
