BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Additional Director of Panchayats at Panjim, passed an order quashing and set aside the impugned demolition order issued by sarpanch Olga D'souza to 161 houses in alleged violation of CRZ regulation.
It may be recalled that Roquezinho D'Souza resident of Velsao, a senior citizen and former panch of Velsao Pale Panchayat along with some of the effected residents had filed a petition before the Additional Director of panchayats and challenged the resolution taken by the Village Panchayat of Velsao-Pale on February 20, this year to demolish 161 houses which fall in CRZ area.
Requezinho and others challenged the resolution which had been taken by the sarpanch Olga before the director of panchayat on ground that one resolution cannot be obtained to demolish 161 houses and that separate resolution for demolition of individual house need to be taken.
The director of panchayats, DB Shanke in his order has stated that the impugned demolition notices issued by the panchayat is hereby quashed and that the mater is remanded back to the panchayat with directions to the panchayat to clearly identify the illegal structures which fall within 200mts of the High Tide Line (HTL) and that thereafter giving an appropriate personal hearing to the appellant, decide the matter afresh in accordance with law.
The locals claim that the houses existed over a centaury and of their forefathers carried out their traditional fishing occupation while living there in the same.
The High Court had earlier issued direction to the Verna police to arrest the sarpanch and produce in the court also imposed fine for failure to remain present for hearing in the High Court matter pertaining to CRZ violation.
That the arrest warrant was cancelled after sarpanch Olga tendered an unconditional apology to the court.
That in at another incident sarpanch Olga was taken to task by the residents from Bellem, Velsao for move to acquire vast land of Velsao church to put up a garbage dump and cattle pond without the knowledge of church fabrica.
Salmona pollution raised in House
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
PANJIM: The continuing pollution of Salmona spring in Saligao to the utter detriment of the residents using its water rankled the opposition benches in the House yesterday. The crux of the debate lay centred on the government's lack of action in this matter for almost five years.
Raising the matter through a Starred Question, Saligao MLA, Dilip Parulekar wanted to know whether any action is taken by the government to curb its pollution level and its source of contamination.
He also brought to light the report dated on March 16 that states that this water is not fit for consumption. He lamented that in the past, this water was used to cure skin ailments but now it is a source for it.
Admitting that the water contains high levels of Coliform and hence is unfit for consumption, Sequeira blamed it on the washing of clothes and the location of septic tanks of residences in the vicinity of the spring.
"The GSPCB has issued directives to the Panchayat to try and control seepage of leachate coming down from the garbage-dumping site," informed Sequeira.
Parulekar then added that garbage is dumped just 200 meters away from the spring.
But the Saligao MLA was not satisfied with the reply and mentioned that this issue was raised previous sessions also but not adequate action is taken.
Speaker Pratapsingh Rane then suggested to the Environment Minister to visit the spring area personally and examine it.
