Discloses plans to take up initiatives for Carmona community
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Mumbai-based Raheja Universal has once again knocked the doors of the Carmona village panchayat.
This time round, however, the real estate developer has not only contemplated development of residential units, but also disclosed plans to take up initiatives for the Carmona community as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Sources said Raheja’s has requested the sarpanch Lavita Dias for an opportunity to present its community and project plans before the people.
In its letter dated July 1, the company has shown its willingness to meet members of the Village Panchayat and the Carmona community to present its broad plans and also the initiatives that it intends to undertake for the village. “Our endeavour is to understand the feedback of the Carmona community and its representatives so that we can work towards the best interests of all the stakeholders,” the letter stated.
The company has requested the Sarpanch to give them a convenient date and time to present their plans, while looking for early and positive response.
When contacted, Carmona deputy Sarpanch Orlando Da Silva confirmed that the Carmona Panchayat has received a letter from Raheja Universal Pvt Ltd with a request for an opportunity to present their community and project plans. “The letter will now be placed before the Panchayat body meeting before it is kept before the gram sabha for deliberations and discussions,” he said.
Orlando said that neither the Sarpanch nor the Panchayat body has any authority to take a decision on housing projects as they are required to place all such plans before the gram sabha. “By resolution dated March 30, 2008, the Carmona gram sabha had adopted a resolution that any matter relating to Raheja’s should be placed before the gram sabha for a final decision. Raheja’s letter will now be placed before the gram sabha for an appropriate decision,” he said.
The letter does not mention anything about the initiatives Raheja’s intends to take up in Carmona, but sources in the know say that the real estate developer has shown interest in development of village sports infrastructure, besides other facilities.
Raheja’s first shot into limelight over half a decade ago when the real estate developer proposed 700-odd housing units in Carmona village in land admeasuring around 86,000 sq mts.
The proposal triggered protests from the local villagers, who opposed the project on grounds that it would alter the village demography and affect the fragile infrastructure. Later, the Mumbai-based developer came up with another project to build dozen-odd bungalows on the property, but the proposal was shot down by the villagers on grounds that the property is not linked by a mandatory 10-meter wide road.
