MANDREM: Sarpanch Amit Sawant of the Mandrem panchayat urged villagers to cooperate with the local body, and work unitedly to curb illegal constructions in the village. Speaking at the ordinary gram sabha of the village panchayat on Monday, Sawant said that unauthorised construction will not be tolerated in the jurisdiction of the panchayat. He added that no new constructions will be allowed in close proximity to any devasthan or church in the village. Sawant said, “Even if the devasthan or church committee gives a written statement approving the construction to the Panchayat, the construction will be stopped.”
In a bid to increase the revenue of the panchayat, tax will be collected from establishments like guest houses and lodges as well as from all the mobile towers installed within the jurisdiction of panchayat, the Sarpanch informed the villagers in attendance.
During the gram sabha, the villagers discussed several issues such as illegal hill cutting, roadside encroachments, garbage, public crematorium and noise pollution from the tourist belt, among others. Written complaints were filed by locals stating that a resort at Junaswada, Mandrem, named Riva Resort, was contributing to noise pollution by playing loud music till late in the night, causing inconvenience to senior citizens, sick people and children. The villagers urged the panchayat to take required measures to curb noise pollution.
“A large number of illegal constructions are underway in the panchayat area, and many have violated building norms. The panchayat body will survey all such constructions. Apart from this, there are many people running rest houses and guest houses from their houses; the panchayat will conduct a survey and the full details of this will be produced before the Gram Sabha,” said the Sarpanch.
