Chodan-Madel locals to revoke housing project licence

PANJIM, MAY 6 – The Gram Sabha of Chodan-Madel panchayat on Sunday resolved to revoke the licence granted to a plush housing project in the village.At a heated debate in the Community hall, residents demanded that Sarpanch Prasad Chodankar revoke the licence granted for a ‘gated project’ involving five villas along with five swimming pools, stated a press note issued by former sarpanch Shrikrishna Haldankar.Members raised queries as to how the Delhi-based promoter was given permission to convert a cultivated paddy field at Madel for the project, despite opposition from the local panch.Members have demanded that henceforth no major project should be passed without the approval of the Gram Sabha.The resolution, moved by former sarpanch Rama Kubal and seconded by Mr Haldankar, was unanimously passed at the meeting.Cutting of hills and illegal filling of marshy areas was vehemently objected, with villagers calling upon Mr Chodankar to initiate prompt action on the perpetrators.Poor ferry service along the Ribandar-Madel route also came to the fore, with the formation of a 10-member committee to take up the issue to the River and Navigation Minister, the press note added.Irregular water supply and water scarcity was brought to the notice of Mr Chodankar, who promised to look into the matter. Queries were also raised as to how the PWD disconnected the public taps, without providing free water supply to the poor families.The Panchayat-level Development Committee could not be constituted at the meeting and is likely to be constituted at a specially convened Gram Sabha on May 25.