MAPUSA: Pomburpa-Ecoxim villagers are once again out to save another area of land in the village which is supposedly bought by a private company.The villagers learnt the same after the person concern constructed access road to the property.
Objecting to the sale of land to a private company, villagers have complained to the panchayat, stating that the road is illegal. Acting on the complaint, the panchayat issued a notice to the person concerned and had fixed a site inspection on Monday. However when the villagers reached the panchayat to proceed to the site for inspection, the sarpanch informed the villagers that the inspection is cancelled because the secretary is transferred and in absence of secretary, the inspection cannot be carried. This angered the villagers.
Villagers said that if the panchayat knew about the transfer of the secretary then they should have informed the villagers, since there are office-going people who have taken a day’s leave to remain present for the inspection.
“If the panchayat body knew that secretary is transferred, they should have written to the BDO to postpone the inspection because villagers have taken leave to remain present for the inspection,” Dhiren Phadte said.
“Panchayat should have had some data, if there is existing road, if not then it’s clear that the road is illegal road. Hundreds of trees are destroyed. The other parties were informed about the cancellation, but villagers were not intimated. This is the second time the inspection is cancelled. Henceforth if any meeting or inspection has to be done then it should be scheduled only on Sundays and not on working days,”villagers said.
Villagers said that tar road construction is carried out illegally giving access into the jungle after destroying trees and forest property in survey no: 292/1-P, 292/1-I & 292/1-Q purchased by one Mohit Agarwal, LAN Estate Pvt Ltd & Suresh Bhimappa Lamani. This property is in lakhs of sqm. This tar road is constructed without any licences and permission and if it is not stopped then in future they will illegally convert the land for development”, a local Dhiren Phadte said.
Sarpanch Leopoldina Fernandes e Noronha said, “Last week our Panchayat Secretary was transferred but he was supposed to be there till Tuesday October 10.But all of a sudden he was relieved from his duty. While conducting inspection, we need the secretary to write a report. If the road is illegal, we would have seen it during the inspection and would have initiated action, but the inspection is postponed. The next date of inspection will be scheduled once the new secretary joins duty.”
