TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
OLD GOA: With the Santa Cruz Panchayat renewing the licence for a controversial project in the eco-sensitive area in the village, locals have vowed that they will oppose the project tooth and nail while at the same time demanding that the panchayat should revoke the licence without any delay.
The renewal of licence to the project generated much heat at the gram sabha on Sunday, with some opposition panchas levelling allegations against the panchayat secretary of accepting bribe while approving the file.
However, Sarpanch Vincent Lourenco defended the secretary while stating that it was at his instance that the licence was renewed. “I told the secretary to grant the renewal only after finding that all the documents were in order,” Lourenco stated.
Later, speaking to Herald, Lourenco chided the opposition for making baseless allegations against the secretary. “One of the opposition panch, who was a former sarpanch and is a builder by profession, is himself involved in flouting rules while building his projects in the village,” he said and questioned what authority he has to point accusing fingers at others.
When questioned why the panchayat granted renewal to the project when there is opposition from the villagers, Lourenco informed that there is pressure from top level officers and politicians to give go ahead to the project.
Earlier, speaking on the subject, Arturo D’Souza said the villagers had passed a resolution opposing the project way back in 2002, a stand which continues till date.
“Now, we have come to know that in 2004, the builders had appealed against the said resolution in the Director of Panchayats, who in turn had asked opinion of the panchayat whether there is any public opposition to the project,” D’Souza said.
Suspecting hanky panky in the issue, D’Souza questioned why the panchayat had then failed to intimate the public on such sensitive issue.
Another villager and architect Elsa Fernandes, however opined that now since the builders have already got the approvals, the panchayat should instead write to the government to revoke the change in zone, which has been converted to Commercial C2. “This way the project will be shelved,” Fernandes opined.
Agreeing with the proposal, Arturo D’Souza cited a case in Siridao where the government revoked the change in zone and advised the Santa Cruz Panchayat to attach a copy of the same while asking for revoking of change in zone in case of the project.
The issue of the beneficiaries of 20-point programme, near the GMC hospital, undertaking commercial activities was also discussed with the villagers demanding that the panchayat should stop all such activities in the area.
“The 20-point programme is specifically for residential purpose and not to undertake commercial activities,” the villagers further stated while passing a resolution to revoke all permissions for commercial activities in 20-point programme locality.
The issue of open spaces was also discussed with Sarpanch Lourenco stating that the panchayat, with the help of SCREAM, has been able to demarcate most of the open spaces in the village.
“However, the panchayat has observed that some open spaces have been encroached upon,” Lourenco informed and sought opinion of the villagers on the best way to tackle the issue, to which the villagers replied that the panchayat should demolish all such encroachments.
