MARGAO: Zilla Parishad member Moreno Rebello on Wednesday asserted that there was no fraud in developing the open space, at Mogalli in Sao Jose de Areal.
The ZP member’s view was endorsed by ZP Chairperson Navnath Naik, who claimed that the allegations are levelled only to tarnish Moreno’s image in view of the upcoming ZP elections.
Moreno said the land belongs to his family and as the other co-owners namely his mother, brother and sister have given him the Power of Attorney, he issued a NOC to the Zilla Parishad and after completing the required formalities, work got tendered.
“The only reason why a Gift Deed has not been executed is due to the exorbitant panchayat fees and we wanted to avoid the same and that is the reason why I have given the NOC,” he said and added that there are some elements in the village, who want to block every developmental work.
Sao Jose de Areal Sarpanch Vinny Mascarenhas, who represents Mogalli area, recalled that at the time of elections, Moreno had promised the people that the open space would be developed and he had honoured his commitment.
He alleged that the person creating hurdles for the project is not from Mogalli and claimed that Moreno has given his own land for constructing a government primary school and even a chapel in that area.
“The person creating hurdles is using sopo collector’s licence to collect money from illegal vendors in the village,” he charged.
Navnath Naik disclosed that the work estimated to cost Rs 6.20 lakh was sanctioned after following all the formalities and asserted that there was no scope for any “fraud” to be committed there and urged the people to keep politics away from development.
He said the ZP members will be meeting the chief minister shortly with a demand to permit them to participate in the gram sabhas in their constituencies as there is scope for further allegations against the ZP member, who undertakes works in the village.
Curtorim Deputy Sarpanch Simon Barretto, who is also the attorney of Curtorim Comunidade, which owns a land in Sao Jose de Areal said, the person raising objections, belongs to a family that has encroached upon Comunidade land in the village.
