MARGAO: Rumdamol villagers on Monday gheraoed Sarpanch Mubeena Faniband demanding immediate action against the alleged illegal construction activities carried out in the village and threatened to take law into their hands, if the panchayat failed to do so.
Later, the Sarpanch assured to bring the issue to the notice of the Housing Board and Comunidade concerned. Alleging that some persons are engaged in illegal construction activities, the locals demanded that the panchayat initiate action against them.
“The structures are illegal as these structures have no legal documents and not even necessary permissions from the panchayat, and hence should be demolished at the earliest,” demanded Mantesh Rege, a villager.
Expressing their ire over the panchayat’s inaction, the group of villagers demanded immediate inspection by the panchayat. The demand by the villagers prompted the sarpanch and others to inspect the site.
Following the inspection, the sarpanch said that the issue will be brought to the notice of the Comunidade concerned and the Goa Housing Board for further action.
The locals alleged that there have been several other illegalities including illegal constructions and encroachments and accused the panchayat of failing to initiate action to stop these activities.
The panchayat admitted to have come across some illegalities during the inspection.
“Presently the works at the site have been halted and the panchayat will initiate steps to stop these illegalities,” said panch Sammulla Faniband.
Informing about the illegalities and encroachments in the village, Rege said, “We doubt that panchayat too is hand-in-glove with the violators and hence hesitates to initiate action. The locals will not tolerate illegalities in the village.”
