To Goanet - Today I went again to Paithona and took a friend along. We had a talk with the family who lives cheek by jowl to the Chowgule Real Estate & Constructions project and gathered the following:
- Construction began even before the NOC was issued by the panchayat. - Over 100 trees were destroyed. - The project hit turbulence and was stalled for a month or so after a panch objected but 5 lakh rupees cleared the air and ensured a smooth ride. - The stench wrought by the open-air defecation of ghati labourers has made life a living hell for these villagers. - Bhaile are seen almost every day scouring sites/plots in the village (nothing new there). - Plots are being parceled for sale/construction by another company in what is presumably a non-settlement zone. See photo #3 in the earlier post. - The MLA for this village is Dayanand Narvekar. Warm regards, r
