PONDA: A group of youths in Marcel strongly opposed the digging of the play ground under Tivrem-Vargao panchayat jurisdiction for construction of a ‘walking track’. The youths said the contractor started digging ground without showing work order, TCP and other legal permissions. They alleged the work is illegal and against gram sabha resolution.
They asserted that Sarpanch Jayesh Naik should take locals into confidence, organise meeting with fifteen sports clubs as per gram sabha resolution and any nature of development would take place only after views of locals is considered. Already 80 locals has signed memorandum against the ‘walking track’.
The youths said if the ‘walking track’ is constructed than the size of the ground would be reduced.
“We play various types of sports, including tennis ball cricket tournament, football games beside schools from Panchayat areas also use the same ground. It is also used for coaching children,” the youths said.
The youths gathered in the evening in protest against digging of ground said it is unfortunate that despite opposition from locals and youths in Sunday’s gramsabha, the panchayat allowed the contractor to dig the ground.
The issue was hotly debated in the gram sabha on January 29 with locals had passed the resolution that before constructing the ‘walking track’, the issue should be discussed with all the sports clubs under the village panchayats.
“However, the contractor violated the resolution today and hence youths stopped it. We have neither been provided with details of work, nor any board was put up at the construction site displaying the nature of work, name of contractor and permissions obtained for the work,” the youths alleged.
