PANJIM: The special gram sabha convened by St Cruz panchayat on Easter Day has resolved to clear the illegal construction around the Bondvol lake and conserve the heritage zone preserving the Portuguese era lake.
“Considering the urgent need to safeguard the interests of the villagers of Santa Cruz and the imminent danger to the Heritage Bondvol Lake, the gram sabha resolved that it endorses the concerns of the villagers and immediately, in the next panchayat body meeting, adopt a resolution to protect and restore the Heritage,” gram sabha resolved.
The entire village of Calapur-St Cruz has revolted against illegally grabbing of the lake and development in the surrounding area which falls in the no development zone as per regional plan.
The gram sabha was specially called to discuss and resolve the proposed resolution pertaining to Save Bondvol Lake campaign. The meeting has unanimously passed all the resolutions proposed by a local activist Arthuro D’Souza and seconded by Victor Gonsalves, a former MLA of St Cruz constituency.
The first resolution which is passed against the illegal construction of houses/huts erected on the overflow side of the Bondvol lake which is also within the buffer zone and Heritage zone. The Gram Sabha resolved to send notices to the Hirabai Kavlekar under Section 66 (1) and issue demolition orders under section 66 (3) of the Panchayat Raj Act to demolish illegal house within lake area.
Gram Sabha has also resolved to revoke the NOC which was fraudulently obtained by Kavlekar to avail electrical connection to the house located near the lake bearing house number 1488/6.
The gram sabha has also resolved that the panchayat should take cognizance of the offence of illegal hill cutting by a private builder in the periphery of Bondvol lake and immediately report the matter to the higher authorities specifically to the Forest Department for illegal felling of trees and destruction of forest cover and to take steps to direct the TCP department for immediate restoration of the Heritage Zone by passing a resolution in the next forthcoming meeting.
Gram Sabha was attended by most of the villagers along with local MLA Tony Fernandes and former MLA Victor Gonsalves.
Mariano Arauzo, a local resident and former President of Calapur Comunidade speaking to Herald said that of the 11 panch members only six were present for the gram sabha which was very crucial for St Cruz.
