Chaos at Sancoale meet over Bhutani plan nods

Vasco: The Sancoale panchayat meeting broke into chaos on Friday, during the discussion on Bhutani Infra’s controversial multi-dwelling housing project in the village.

Besides panchayat members, environmentalists and social activists were also present at the meet called to discuss the project proponent’s reply to the panchayat show-cause. Opponents of the project said that three main permissions were not present with the proponent, as gathered from the reply.

The discussion got heated, forcing ruling panch members, including deputy sarpanch of Sancoale Darrick Vales, to walk out of the general body meeting. He said they will seek a legal opinion on the reply given by the project proponent Parmesh Construction Company Ltd (PCCL) over the proposed Bhutani Infra’s housing project. The project is set to come up at Savarfond in Sancoale.

The opposition panch members criticised the decision of the ruling faction, calling it a tactic to buy time.

Meanwhile, in the show cause notice reply, the project proponent has concluded requesting the panchayat body to allow a peronal hearing “where our architect/consultant/lawyer could also remain available to clarify the issues in an effective manner”.

Of the 11-member panchayat body, seven—four from the opposition and three from ruling—were present for the meeting, while four others from the ruling abstained.

“The water supply permission from PWD, hill cutting permission from TCP under Section 17 (A) issued by chief town planner, and environment clearance were not taken by the project proponent. The project proponent has applied for the permission, but the authorities have not granted them any permissions till date,” said opposition panch member Tulsidas Naik.

He said as the project proponent has not produced all relevant and valid permissions within seven days as required under the show cause, the panchayat should revoke its construction licence “in the interest of the people”.