Orlim villagers oppose sale of donated land

23/10/08

To
The Sarpanch /Secretary
Orlim Panchayat
Orlim Salcette
Goa ,

Cc for quick action - Chief Secretary
Secratriate ,Porvorim

PWD Minister
Secratriate ,Porvorim

Law Secretary
Secratraite ,Porvorim

Registrar
Panjim

Sub Registrar
Margao

Collector ,Margao

Dy,Collector
Margao

Dir of Panchayats
Panjim .

Town and Country Planning
Panjim

Town and Country Planning
Margao

Block Development Officer
Margao







Memorandum to the Panchayat of Orlim

Dear Sir ,

The villagers of Orlim with the support of the Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch would like to bring to your attention that it has been noticed in the past few months things at the Panchayat of Orlim have gotten from bad to worse.

While the villagers were still dealing with an illegal road being constructed in Palcutta ,Orlim the villagers with shock saw the approval of a commercial housing complex in the same ward with a swimming pool without the same being discussed in the Gram Sabha .
If this was not enough the villagers have to deal right throughout Orlim with their properties being acquired with the tactic approval it seems of the Panchayat and with no knowledge of the villagers in whose interest the Panchayat should be working for.
All this took a severe turn when we recently learnt that our recreational area in Candelem ,Orlim would be no more, again with the direct approval of the Orlim Panchayat .

We the Villagers and OGRM would like to bring to your attention the following

a- The said property in question being in Survey #101/3 with an area of approx 7150 sq meters as in form 1 and 14 in the name of Society of Pilar ,Maria Albertina Pereira Gomes and Stacy Leo Gonsalves .

b- The said property in question has been donated by the late George Gomes family to the Pilar society with stipulations and non of them says they can sell.


c-The property in question is consisting of pure white sand which has been so as can be remembered by the oldest in the village.

d-The Google statalitite image also shows the pure white sand which is unique as there is no other like this anywhere else .

e-This white sand play ground has been used for various recreational sports from football, basket ball, cricket, badminton, volley ball in the village by her children .

f-This play area or recreational ground has seen many great sports persons who have not only represented and played for Goa but in some instances the country as well such as well such as Arnold Rodrigues , Marian Dias ,Rudolph Pimenta, Roy Minranda Glen Miranda ,Milton Pimenta and Ida Coutinho to name only a few .

g-This ground has seen many tournaments being held such as the Annual sports of Orlim ,Tie Breakers , Foot ball matches between each wards and inter village some of these tournaments have had honoured dignatries and Ministers grace the occasion.

h-The children who come to Church and the entire village refer to is as the Church ground .Its the one place the children are safe as even if they fall they never hurt because of the sand.




Having put the above points down we would like to request you to kindly revoke the construction licence given based on the following-

1- A Gram Sabha resolution was taken on 23/09/2007 under your chairmanship that of present Sarpanch Godfrey Rodrigues resolving to acquire the playground in survey # 101/3 of Candelem Orlim ,Salcette Goa .This resolution was proposed by Mr Kezar Martins and seconded by Dominic Lima and passed by a majority as stated by your minute’s book.


2-How is it that the said sitting panchayat has not set the ball rolling to acquire this property in the better interest of the villagers after nearly over a year of this Gram Sabha .As such they should honour the resolution taken as per the Gram Sabha




3-The licence given by the present Panchayat is not in confidence of the Gram Sabha as such and needs to be revoked as not only has it gone against the Gram Sabha resolution but also not scrutinized the papers well before clearing it for construction as the same lacks authenticity .


We urge you to take action immediately within a week from date of this memorandum and request that all be permissions revoked and construction material removed with the ground back to its old glory


After this request if not obliged to we ill be constrained to take all democratic modes of action to see justice done and save this white sand recreation ground.





Foot note in the words of a small child of Orlim : “Mama this sand is so white its magic even if you mix it with red mud it still is white. Its one of Gods gift to us “


Sincerely as signed by over 50 villigers

The Sarpanch after a discussion and handing the said memorandum agreed to revoke the construction licence and put the said ground for Aquisition we await the copies of the same .