MARGAO: The Sarzora Panchayat held a special gram sabha where the villagers unanimously resolved to reject the notification to change the zone of a low lying paddy filed admeasuring 28000 sq mts to settlement zone. The resolution will be sent to the TCP department and the local MLA.
Leading the opposition to the land conversion, Sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas slammed the Town and Country planning officials for converting land in the village.
Clearly upset with the TCP, including the local MLA Filipe Nery Rodrigues, who is a member of the TCP Board, for sidelining the panchayat while approving the zone change, the Sarpanch asked, “How can such things be done without informing the gram shaba. At least the TCP should come and see the place and see if it’s a low lying field. This field was big so it came on the paper. Many small fields also might have been converted without anyone knowing it. If TCP doesn’t have time to see the place, at least tell us to inspect the place. If the panchayat goes to inspect the site, bouncers are sent to threaten us.”
Wilson Fernandes, the former Sarzora sarpanch, also spoke at the gram sabha highlighting that the land is a paddy field and is a flood-prone area. “It must be objected to at any cost,” he said.
He stated that the issue began two years back when the owners began filling the land. “When I objected that time, they brought in bouncers. I had to call the police,” he said. The people had objected that time too because of which the land restored.
Francis Mascarenhas, a local, stated that the village had already objected to the proposal in the Regional plan. Another villager, Sebastian Mascarenhas made a call for villagers to support the resolution stating that “If we don’t take action this is another Kerala waiting.”
