TEAM HERALD
BICHOLIM: The Pilgao gram sabha on Sunday decided to revoke licence given to a person to construct a small bridge till he donates land for a road leading from Sarmanas to Pilgao.
It may be recalled that since last several years, villagers from Pilgao are using a small path from Sarmanas to Pilgao which shortens the distance by about 5 kms. The path is so narrow that only one motorcycle could pass through it. To add to this, a person has built a compound wall on one side, while on the other there is Sarmanas River.
During the gram sabha, Deelip Gawas raised the issue stating that the person has built compound wall and is slowly trying to stop the traditional path leading to the village.
Gawas sought to know why NOC was given to him to build a bridge. He claimed that the bridge is illegal and the licence given by the panchayat be revoked.
The villagers got furious when the panchayat tried to defend the issuing of NOC. Based on the demand, the sarpanch said they would conduct site inspection on Wednesday.
The villagers highlighted that the path is so narrow that two persons have already died after they fell into the waters at night. “We strongly demand that the NOC for the bridge be revoked till the person donates land for the road,” Gawas demanded.
Gawas urged that the gram sabha be adjourned and be reconvened on Wednesday evening after the inspection. The villagers also made every panch member to express their opposition to the project during the gram sabha. Later, it was unanimously resolved to revoke the licence given for the private bridge till the person donates land for the road.
