TEAM HERALD
Will the new Chinchinim sarpanch manage to get the market complex-cum-panchayat ghar project implemented, land for which was acquired during the tenure of former Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues following a change in guard?
The ambitious project was bogged down in a bitter controversy with a section of the villagers opposing the market complex on the acquired land on grounds that a market close to the place of worship will throw up problems of sanitation.
Many others including the present ruling body have supported the market project on the land, saying the existing market is the cause of all congestion and traffic-related problems plaguing the village.
Though it’s over three years now since land admeasuring around 10,000 sq mts was acquired for the project, the project is yet to see light of the day.
Newly-elected sarpanch Constancio Fernandes, who has been a strong votary of the market complex on the acquired ground, says the panchayat will take everyone into confidence on the issue.
“We will approach Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva to seek his support and cooperation to get the project implemented. The MLA has never said he is opposed to the market complex and has time and again said he will be with the people on the issue. Our next mission is to call on the Chief Minister to ensure that the project is implemented at the earliest”, he added.
Some time back, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation had floated a tender to build a panchayat ghar on the acquired land, but was silent on the market complex.
The proposal, however, came in for objection from Constancio and other panchas, who demanded that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation go by the initial license granted by the panchayat body in December 2011 for a market complex cum panchayat ghar.
The ambitious market complex-cum-panchayat ghar project was bogged down in a bitter controversy with a section of the villagers opposing the market complex on the acquired land on grounds that a market close to the place of worship will throw up problems of sanitation
