CHICALIM LOCALS WANT DLF MEGA PROJECT SITE TO BE INSPECTED

The construction of a proposed mega project at Dabolim has raised the hackles of a section of villagers who have now complained to the Chicalim village panchayat about "several irregularities" and have demanded a site inspection by local authorities. A group of villagers confronted sarpanch Anacleto D'Souza over the matter and, upon submitting a written complaint against the "several irregularities" in the project demanded an impromptu site inspection by the panchayat. D'Souza, it is learnt, expressed his helplessness in acceding to their demands "without serving notice upon the builder", but assured to look into the allegations.

According to a complaint lodged by one of the villagers, Edwin Mascarenhas, the promoters of the project are digging borewells in their fenced property "without taking necessary permissions" from panchayat authorities. Mascarenhas, it is learnt, also lodged a complaint with the forest department alleging massive tree felling in the area. The officials of the department conducted a site inspection. Asked to comment on the findings of the inspection, M K Shambhu, deputy conservator of forests, south Goa, said that they were in the process of "verifying if there were any violations of approvals" obtained by the party.
Speaking to TOI, sarpanch Anacleto D'Souza maintained that the promoters of the project have obtained all relevant approvals from the statutory authorities, including the panchayat. "However, as the panchayat had not given them permission to dig borewells, I orally instructed the builder to stop the work. Though they promptly stopped the construction of borewells following my instructions, they have submitted an application to the panchayat for allowing them to construct borewells. The proposal will be placed before the panchayat body meeting soon and an appropriate decision will be taken," D'Souza said.
As for the villagers' complaint, D'Souza said the panchayat would verify the facts "by following all laid-down procedures". "We will ask the builder to come along with all relevant documents and, if it is found necessary, we will fix a date for the site inspection," he said.