VASCO: A hotel project proposed in the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat jurisdiction has become bone of contention between the local body and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha with both blaming each other over the project.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday Velsao Sarpanch Henrique D’Mello had blamed Alina for claiming ignorance on the proposed hotel project. He had also assured that his panchayat would do maximum to stop proposed hotel project in Velsao, like they did in past.
Expressing surprise over D’Mello’s statement, Alina has now blamed the Velsao Panchayat accusing it for giving construction licence to the hotel project.
“I am surprised to note how the Velsao Sarpanch Henrique D’Mello, in his attempt to hide his involvement in the hotel project in Velsao, feigns ignorance about the fact that it is the local panchayat that is responsible for giving construction licences to projects coming up at the village level. The sarpanch therefore cannot make irresponsible statements claiming he has no role to play in granting the construction licence to the said project,” Saldanha said.
“Can the sarpanch explain to the villagers as to why the fact that the proponent had approached the panchayat for construction licence was not made known to the villagers before granting the same? Can the Sarpanch also explain why this fact was kept hidden from the MLA, more so, when there is a precedent in the village of Velsao by the same proponent, to which late Matanhy Saldanha along with the villagers had objected to?” Saldanha asked.
“The Sarpanch made a statement that his panchayat will do maximum to stop this proposed hotel project in Velsao. Would it not have been wiser and more practical to study the project and its implications on the village first, before issuing the construction licence? Lastly, I do not visit PDA and TCP offices to find out which projects are being constructed on private land. It is the local panchayats that get the information for being the local authority to issue the construction licence, which the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat did. D’Mello cannot feign innocence. The people know better,” Saldanha claimed.
