Will also issue stop work order on the ongoing work at the site
Camurlim sarpanch faces the heat as locals demand revocation of licence to a controversial mega project in the village on Sunday.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
Giving in to the demands of visibly angry villagers, Camurlim Sarpanch Pandurang Khorjuvenkar announced at the Sunday’s gram sabha that the panchayat will revoke the licence issued to a controversial mega project at Khoirat, Camurlim and to also issue stop work order on the ongoing work at the site.
The locals also unanimously resolved to ban all new projects/multiple dwelling units/ commercial buildings/hotels or any such large building activity in the jurisdiction of the village panchayat of Camurlim till basic facilities such as water, electricity and roads are adequately made available in the village.
“Since the locals have taken a resolution to ban all mega projects in the village, the panchayat will discuss it at the fortnightly panchayat body meeting on Wednesday (Aug 16) and revoke the licence issued to the project in survey no 172/1-N. I will also issue stop work order to the project,” Khorjuvenkar informed the journalists.
Incidentally, St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar had raised the issue of the controversial project in Camurlim in the recently concluded Goa Legislative Assembly.
Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane had also assured to visit the site along with the MLA.
On Sunday’s gram sabha, the panchayat hall was packed to capacity as the villagers took the panchayat to task for failing to withdraw the licence to the project despite strong opposition from the locals.
The agitated locals refused to listen to the sarpanch and demanded immediate revocation of the licence to the project.
“The entire village does not want the project. The panchayat should withdraw the licence issued to the project. Let them go to court,” a local shouted, visibly upset with the local body for dragging its feet.
The sarpanch informed the villagers that the file first came for provisional licence last year and the previous panchayat had issued the licence to the project.
But countering him, a former sarpanch Sharad Gad informed that earlier gram sabha had passed a resolution not to issue any permission on hills and therefore the earlier panchayat had rejected the plan.
“The earlier panchayat did not give any permission to the project. For some reason the government sent a new secretary to the panchayat who then issued the licence to the project,” Gad revealed.
Trying to find a middle path, the sarpanch suggested that the panchayat will give eight day's time to the Town & Country Planning (TCP) department to hold a joint inspection at the site.
“If the department fails to come then we will do the inspection on our own,” he said.
Angry villagers refused the plan and pointed out that the sarpanch had given a similar assurance last time but nothing happened.
“We do not want any more assurances from you. We want nothing short of revoking the licence. Besides, issue a stop work order at the site,” the villagers demanded in one voice.
A local informed that the project proponents had stationed around 15 bouncers at the site and did not allow people to use the public pathway on the hill.
A local Nubert Fernandes said that the sarpanch has executive power to revoke the licence but wondered what stopped him from taking the decision.
Acknowledging the sense of the villagers, the sarpanch told the gram sabha members that the panchayat body will hold a special meeting and revoke the licence to the project on Aug 16.
He also assured to stop the ongoing work at the site.
