St Cruz ex-sarpancha’s construction application kept on hold

PANJIM: Santa Cruz Village Panchayat has kept on hold an application for construction licence by former sarpanch William Gonsalves following a complaint that an open space has allegedly been shown as a plot in Survey No 4/3 at Jina, Cujira.
Gonsalves had applied for construction of a residential house in Survey No 4/3 at Jina, Cujira after completing all the required formalities.
However, one Yogesh Tigdi from Merces filed a complaint before the village panchayat stating that a plot admeasuring 925 sq mts of land is an open space and it a part of a larger property comprising 12 plots being carved out after sub-division and approval by the Town and Country Planning Department
In his letter, Tidgi alleged that the facts were hidden by Gonsalves and that the TCP had granted its approval for sub-division of plots after showing it as an open space.
Padmakar Rivonkar and Smita Shirodkar, both residents of Jina, Cujira told Herald that the residents had written a letter to the village panchayat urging it to develop the open space by constructing a children’s park. They claimed that the open space has been provided under the TCP Act dated June 3, 1966 under reference number DE/284/7194 at Jina, Cujira.
When contacted, Santa Cruz sarpanch Namdev alias Ulhas Naik said that the panchayat has kept on hold Gonsalves’ application following objection by villagers that the said plot is an open space. He said the panchayat will conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Ward 9 panch Prasad, alias Babi Naik, said that the residents have written to the panchayat to develop the said plot for recreational purpose being an open space. He said that matter was discussed during the gram sabha and in the panchayat meeting.
On the other hand, Gonsalves said that some people were filing bogus complaints against him before the village panchayat. He said in 1986 after the PDA granted NOC for sale, he purchased the land and applied for sanad. He then submitted his application for construction licence to the village panchayat and the later asked him to submit sub-division plan.
Gonsalves said, “It was an orchard land without any access and that there was no sub-division plan available with the TCP. The access and settlement area has been now shown in RP 2021. Therefore all houses built there are illegal.”
“The village panchayat has asked me to submit the sanad and sub-division plan. There is no sub-division plan available with TCP and I will submit sanad to the panchayat. From where wilI I bring sub-division plan when TCP itself does not have it,” asked Gonsalves.
“I have NOC for sale from PDA, survey plan, sanad, Form I and XIV and technical clearance. Let them prove that it is open space and what I have submitted is false,” he said.