Members demand status of bypass application in HC
MARGAO
The issue of western bypass, hoardings standing tall in the village, besides installation of the statue of former Opposition leader Dr Jack de Sequeira for his contribution to the Opinion Poll movement took the centre stage at the gram sabha of Benaulim panchayat on Sunday.
The meeting chaired by Deputy Sarpanch Glyda Rodrigues e Fernandes saw a discussion on the western bypass with members demanded to know the status of the application filed in the High Court. Some of the members demanded to know the delay in filing the application in the High Court.
During discussions, the members were informed that the panchayat, which had filed a miscellaneous application in the High Court has since withdrew the application based on the legal advice from the lawyer. The members were further informed that the panchayat has withdrawn the miscellaneous application in order to file a writ petition in the High Court to demand construction of the bypass on stilts.
Gram sabha member Rudolf Barretto, in the absence of the Sarpanch Xavier Pereira, explained the members the steps initiated by the panchayat to file the miscellaneous application in the High Court, the status of the hydrology report and the legal advice to file a writ petition in the High Court.
He said much time was lost in the filing of the miscellaneous application since the legal firm had insisted on the panchayat to obtain documents in support of the application for the bypass on stilts.
Former sarpanch John Barretto tabled a resolution demanding installation of the statue of the Father of Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira near the Khareband bridge traffic junction. While adopting the resolution, members requested the panchayat body to take the resolution to its logical conclusion.
When the issue of hoardings was raised by members, seeking to know the revenue earned by the panchayat body, the secretary maintained that the hoardings are illegal as per the High Court.
The Deputy Sarpanch Glyda later told the media that the panchayat would ascertain whether the hoardings found in the village are legal in nature before levying fees or they are illegal as per the directions of the High Court.
