Team Herald
PANJIM: In a setback to the farmers and villages fighting the Mopa link road, the Directorate of Panchayats allowed an appeal filed by the contractor Ashoka Buildcon Ltd engaged in the work which results in the show cause notice issued by the local village panchayat to the contractor being withdrawn.
Taking cognisance of objections raised by Mopa link road affected farmers in February, the Warkhand Nagzar panchayat had issued a show-cause-cum-stop-work notice to the contractor with a seven-day deadline to furnish copies of permission/licences of all relevant documents such as Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, Forest Clearance, sanad of the property received for the ongoing development works.
The notice warned that on failing to produce these documents action as contemplated under Sub-sections 4 and 66 will be initiated under the provisions of The Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and the relevant law in force.
The contractor thereafter moved the Directorate of Panchayats challenging the notice. The appeal was filed on grounds that the land for construction of the link road to Mopa airport road from Sukekulam was a National Highway (NH-66-S) and the same was acquired by the Government of India under the National Highway Act 1956. The Directorate had granted ex-parte stay on the notice while the hearing was underway, which concluded a week ago and the order was reserved.
On Monday, the Directorate passed an order in favour of the petitioner.
Advocate Prasad Shahapurkar, appearing for the affected farmers, said they will challenge the order before the appellate court.
The villagers alleged illegal destruction of plantations and that the developmental work was in gross violation of the direction issued by the Supreme Court.
Sandip Kambli President of Mopa Vimantal Pidit Xetkari Samiti said, “No matter what public protests against, government will control everything. Regarding the order passed by the Directorate of Panchayat, we have learnt it can be used as a base to challenge it in the high court. If the Panchayati Raj Act has no value then soon Goa will be sold out to outsiders. The government that is called of the people and for the people is working against the people. This is not a Central government project but someone from the Centre is moving the government as a puppet.”
