Team Herald
PORVORIM: The issue of illegal constructions featured prominently at the Reis Magos gram sabha.
At the meeting, member Rajesh Dabolker questioned Sarpanch Kedar Naik on whether the panchayat can issue permission for repairs and renovation of an existing house without the house owner completing the legalaties. When Naik replied in the negative, Dabolker produced copies of six such permissions issued by former sarpanches and sought to know how those permissions had been issued.
He demanded an inquiry and stated that he would also lodge a complaint with Porvorim police, while Naik assured to look into the matter.
Leela Almeida informed that in Survey 75/1, the construction of four villas is in progress. The Mapusa Block Development Office has already directed the Porvorim PI to stop the construction, but no action has been taken yet.
Naik assured to conduct a joint inspection of the site with the police.
The sarpanch also informed that panchayat had not revised the house tax for the last seven years. The panchayat proposed to revise the tax from the next financial year, and after discussions, it was resolved to increase the house tax by 10 percent for those who pay house tax of more than Rs 500 and Rs 50 for those whose house tax is less than Rs 500.
Naik also informed that panchayat has received a letter from the Porvorim police station to furnish information on the tenants in the village. Since the panchayat did not have the information, it was decided to display circulars at public places requesting house owners to submit tenant-verification forms to the Porvorim police station and a copy of the same to the panchayat.
The Biodiversity Management Committee was also formed. The members are: Gangaram Morajker, Francis Fernandes, Leela Almeida, Valencio Colaso, Ramji Naik and Sushant Tople.
