Team Herald
QUEPEM: Two villagers under the banner of Save Xeldem Bio-diversity staged protest outside the Xeldem panchayat office demanding to protect the village from the ongoing destruction and rampant hill cuttings.
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Prashant Gauns Desai and Amey Chimulkar stated that they started their protest on New Year day in protest against the village panchayat and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department the way it is giving permission for land conversions including agriculture land. He feared that these authorities would even convert CADA land if not opposed now.
Giving an example, Gauns Dessai said that the village panchayat and others authorities had inspected a site where construction had been allowed but till date the panchayat had not submitted the inspection report. The development is allowed in the land without widening the road. The builder has shown the existing public road up to his plot, he said demanding that the road width has to be minimum 12 metres.
They demanded that the panchayat members should evince interest to protect nature of the Xeldem village panchayat and undertake development.
They also pointed out to the pathetic condition of handloom textile, rampant illegal activities with the alleged support of TCP Department and hill cuttings and demanded immediate action by the village panchayat.
