Siolim- In a significant turn of events, Smita Shetye Parab, the secretary of Siolim Marna Panchayat, has been transferred following her letter to shut down an alleged unlicensed chicken shop in the area. The situation has led to mounting tensions, with villagers preparing to gather at the Panchayat premises in response to these developments.
The incident that sparked the turmoil took place on Tuesday when the Siolim-Marna Panchayat undertook an inspection of Muskan Foods, a shop selling chicken and mutton in Bamonvado. The shop had been facing multiple complaints from local residents for its purported illegal operations.
As the Panchayat team arrived at the scene, a crowd of over 50 people had already assembled. The inspection revealed that the shop was operating without the necessary permissions from both the Panchayat and the Health Department. Furthermore, it was observed that the shop continued its operations despite receiving a closure notice from the Panchayat.
In response to the violation, the Panchayat instructed the owner to immediately cease operations. However, the owner resisted the order, challenging the Panchayat to seek legal orders from the court. The Panchayat Secretary clarified that the appropriate course of action for the owner would have been to appeal the initial notice.
Efforts to rectify the situation included a request for the shop operator to provide valid permissions from relevant authorities, including the Health Department. Regrettably, the operator failed to furnish the necessary documentation. It was discovered that the operator had only obtained a provisional No Objection Certificate (NOC), which had expired in October 2022.
A concerned local resident expressed, “Our concerns are not directed towards the owner, but rather towards the operator who has continued to run the shop in violation of essential permissions from the Panchayat and Health Department. The permissions granted to the Panchayat had lapsed a year ago, yet the establishment continued to operate illicitly.”
The issue extended beyond permissions, with reports of the shop disregarding proper waste disposal guidelines. The shop’s workers were allegedly caught disposing of waste improperly on multiple occasions, including late-night dumping in river areas.
The ramifications of this episode have now led to the reassignment of Smita Shetye Parab, triggering a wave of tension in Siolim. As villagers gear up to assemble at the Panchayat premises in response to these unfolding events, the situation remains under close observation.
