Resolution on surveying major project passed
OLD GOA
The issue of the need for a new Regional Plan 2035 was discussed at the Azossim-Mandur gram sabha on Sunday, with the government urged to begin the process for the same at the earliest.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof Ramrao Wagh pointed out that the Regional Plan 2021 has expired and that, through various amendments, land conversions are being done to favour builders, which does not augur well for a small state like Goa.
“Therefore, there is a need for a new Regional Plan 2035, which should be planned at the panchayat level by the locals so that haphazard land conversions are avoided,” Prof Wagh informed.
Later, a resolution for the same was unanimously passed, with the panchayat authorities urged to send the same to the government for perusal.
The issue of licences granted to a project in Azossim also dominated the gram sabha, with a resolution adopted to survey the project to ascertain whether any violations had occurred.
Speaking on the issue, Prof Wagh pointed out that several licences for the project were issued by the panchayat only after he had filed objections.
“For instance, the licences for various amenities were issued only after it was brought to notice that these were built without any NOCs,” Prof Wagh informed and expressed suspicion that more such violations could have occurred now, for which an inspection of the project is necessary.
Prof Wagh then pointed out that two borewells have been installed inside the property, one 90 metres deep and another 130 metres deep, drawing 40,000 litres of water each daily. “These are the two legal borewells which are drawing 40,000 litres of water daily, which is likely to affect the groundwater of Azossim village,” Wagh said and further pointed out that the Azossim spring is also facing a threat from the project as debris from the project has reached the spring. “A joint inspection of the spring also needs to be done to ascertain the damage that could have been done,” Wagh demanded.
Opposition was also raised to the Deposit Refund Scheme, in which there is a proposal to levy a higher amount on bottles of soft drinks, water, or juices. “The additional amount levied will be refunded only after the bottle is returned, which is impractical in situations where one travels to faraway places,” Wagh stated.
“If one buys a soft drink or water bottle and is unable to return the bottle to the same outlet, then the additional amount will be lost,” Wagh opined and demanded that this decision be rolled back.
The issue of tenant verification was also discussed, with the sarpanch, Prashant Naik, pointing out that, to date, no verification drive has been conducted in the village.
