Team Herald
PANJIM: Nerul villager Rohan Calangutkar has demanded strict action from the concerned authorities against the illegal kiosks, which are set up on both sides of the road, at Nerul.
Stating that it is the duty of Nerul Village Panchayat to take action against such illegalities, Calangutkar alleged that the local body’s members are also involved in constructing the immovable carts in illegal manner on either side of the road.
He said, “You can’t expect the village panchayat to take action against these illegal kiosks since ‘fence itself is eating the grass’.”
Calangutkar alleged that the village panchayat members are involved in setting up of illegal kiosks.
“The panchayat members themselves obtained the no objection certificate (NOC) from the local body for setting up of movable carts on either side of the road by illegally occupying the space that belongs to the PWD,” he added.
He also alleged that the said panchayat members instead of setting up the movable carts have constructed kiosks in this particular area. Multiple such kiosks set up at both sides of the road are rented out to the ‘outsiders’.
“Because of these kiosks, traffic congestion takes place sometimes,” he added.
Refuting the allegations, Sarpanch Reshma Calangutkar said that the kiosks are movable and legal and installed in this area upon receiving NOC from the panchayat.
Informing that there exist atleast 50 such kiosks to which the panchayat has granted NOC, Reshma said, “All the 50 carts are movable in nature. As decided in gram sabha, cart owners annually renew their respective carts.”
Further, Reshma said that the NOC for setting up of cart was granted only to Nerul locals and accordingly these kiosks are being run by the locals only.
Denying no traffic congestion, Reshma said, “No such complaints of traffic getting congested due to installation of kiosks have been received by the panchayat.”
Rajesh Dabolkar, a resident of Verem said, “The traffic jam caused on the main road of Reis Magos is not due to kiosks but due to increased commuters. Casinos that have come up at Reis Magos and Nerul is main reason why there is traffic jam in this area.”
