TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: The Penha de Franca gram sabha on Sunday witnessed noisy scenes over the issue of granting no-objection certificate to a hotel project.
Agnel Pereira said the residents of Britona had gathered in large number at Britona a couple of months ago and had strongly opposed the granting of NOC to the hotel project. In the meeting convened with Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and Deputy Collector Sabaji Shetye, the panchas, who were then in the opposition group, had strongly objected to the granting of NOC to the resort. However, when the same panchas came to power, NOC was issued to the project, alleged Pereira.
Sarpanch Blanch D’Souza and Deputy Sarpanch Gajanan Halarnker stated that the NOC was issued by Panchayat Secretary Vipin Korgaonker without their knowledge.
However, the panchayat secretary clarified that the panchayat passed a resolution to grant NOC to the party and accordingly as per Section 47 of Panchayat Act, he issued NOC to the project.
Residents of Ward 9 claimed that gutters and drains in their ward were not cleaned by the panchayat before the monsoon nor the bushes were cut. They said garbage collected by the panchayat is being dumped in their ward which should be stopped forthwith.
The sarpanch replied that it is duty of the panch of the respective ward to get the gutters and drains cleaned before monsoon. “The panchayat has already tendered the work of cutting bushes,” said the sarpanch.
The villagers said the condition of the road near river navigation workshop at Betim has become pathetic and needs urgent repair.
The residents of Journalist Colony demanded dismantling of the mobile tower erected in their locality. The issue of streetlights near Penha de Franca Church and stray dogs were also discussed.
