Development in eco fragile land, tenants issue spark Mandur gram sabha

Panaji: The issues of a huge project on Azossim hill, lack of control on tenants in rented houses and a battered 6-km stretch of Pilar-Old Goa road were among issues that dominated the Azossim-Mandur gram sabha on Sunday.

The meeting chaired by sarpanch Prashant Naik witnessed several queries being raised about the project. One of the members, Ramrao Wagh, spoke about the ecological impacts of it and the huge water requirement.

The gram sabha was informed that 90 occupancy certificates had been issued by the previous body and 60 had been issued during the present term.

Wagh alleged that a politician’s son had got a flat in part of same project that offered housing for senior citizens.

The former AAP functionary said that more development was being planned in land identified as a private forest and called for a joint inspection in the area. Naik assured that he would look into the matter.

Regarding complaints of littering by tenants, the sarpanch assured to obtain information about the tenants from the police. One member suggested that the house-owners be penalised for violations.

Issues about the functioning of the local biodiversity management committee (BMC), a new road being planned on Kadamba Plateau to Mandur through green forest and the battered 6-km stretch of Pilar-Old Goa road also were discussed by members.

The sarpanch assured that the BMC will be reconstituted at the earliest. Regarding the dangerous stretch of the road to Pilar, he said that the panchayat would write to the PWD to direct the contractor to repair it using a jetpatcher.

The issue of illegal construction in a property on Mandur hill was also raised. Naik said that the licence had already been revoked and the panchayat would consider action in severing electricity. But the developer had appealed before the authorities.