Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Tension prevailed at the Deputy Town Planner’s (TCP) Office in Chaudi on Tuesday after residents of Patnem marched in protest, demanding the withdrawal of permission granted to a proposed mega project in their locality.
Led by municipal councillor Shubham Komarpant, RGP leader Prashant Pagi, and social activists Vaibhav Phaldesai and Sanjan Naik, the residents sought details of the site inspection report based on which the TCP granted approval for the project.
The protesters alleged that the Dy. Town Planner’s report falsely mentioned the existence of a six-metre-wide road, while in reality, the access road is barely 3.5 metres wide. They questioned how the report could recommend widening it to ten metres when at least 15 houses line both sides of the 75-metre-long stretch leading to the project site.
“How can the road be extended to ten metres when houses stand so close on both sides? The report appears to have been made from the office desk, not from the site,” said activist Vaibhav Phaldesai.
The situation grew tense when TCP officials reportedly called the police and asked the protestors to vacate the premises. Officials, however, later assured the group that they would provide copies of the site inspection report and other details.
Councillor Komarpant said he had earlier written to the Dy. Collector and the Chief Officer of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) opposing such large-scale projects. “These projects benefit a few but inconvenience the entire locality. With no sewerage system in place, waste from similar projects often ends up in drains and rivulets, causing pollution,” he said, adding that he had moved resolutions twice in the CMC meetings to reject the project.
RGP leader Prashant Pagi demanded action against the official who allegedly prepared the “false report”. “Until the official is held accountable and the project approval is revoked, we will continue to support the people’s movement,” he asserted.
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Caption: Residents of Patnem along with councillor Shubham Komarpant, RGP leader Prashant Pagi, and social activists Vaibhav Phaldesai and Sanjan Naik march to Canacona’s Town Planning Office on Tuesday demanding scrapping of the mega project.
