Team Herald
MARGAO: Paroda Sarpanch Inacio Tereza has said that the panchayat body will decide on the letter from the Town and Country Planning Department regarding illegal development of plots in fields for sale and pointed out that the panchayat had received the letter only on March 6.
Town Planner R M Borkar had addressed a letter to the panchayat following a complaint made by 33 villagers led by Prashant Jotkar from Mullem alleging that an unknown person had developed plots for sale in fields.
TCP officials along with the panchayat representatives including the Secretary inspected the site on February 21 and observed that cemented boundary stones are present to mark the various plots. However, there was no road or gutters constructed.
R M Borkar wrote to the Paroda VP to identify the owner of the properties where the plots are marked and sought to know whether the VP has issued any permission to the owner or developer. Besides, the VP was directed to send notices to the developer and also to erect signboards informing public that the activity going on was illegal and caution people against purchasing the illegal and unauthorized plots.
It was also pointed out that the plots that are being developed are demarcated as “cultivable Land Zone” in the Regional Plan 2001 and Regional Plan 2021 also.
Incidentally, the 11 land holdings that are developed into plots totally admeasuring 2300 square metres and as per the Form I & XIV have one Cosmos Domnic Fernandes as the sole occupant of five land holdings.
Six land holdings have Jeronimo Joao Dias, Antonio Oliveira, Francisco Joao Dias and Minguel Oliveira as tenants while Patricio Manuel Dias is a tenant of two land holdings. Interestingly Executive Engineer of PWD Works Division XII is shown as co-occupant of two land holdings.
Incidentally, the matter of illegal development of paddy fields to sell for construction of residential houses was raised at the gram sabha meeting held on February 25 and it was alleged that the land has been purchased by somebody from the village who is developing the plots.
While claiming to have no knowledge if the plots have been sold, Inacio said the matter would be discussed at the next panchayat body meeting that is likely to be held on March 15. “Personally, I am willing to erect the signboards as directed by the TCP,” the sarpanch said.
