Vasco: Sancoale gram sabha on Sunday resolved to recover dues of around Rs 15 crore from BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa campus, and oppose Bhutani’s proposed Acqua Eden mega residential project at Savorfond.Deputy sarpanch Tulshidas Naik said the panchayat would initiate steps to recover nearly Rs 50 crore in outstanding house tax, occupancy charges, trade licence fees, construction licence fees and other dues from BITS Pilani and other entities.Naik said BITS Pilani Goa campus alone owed around Rs 15 crore to the panchayat. He said the institution had constructed several classrooms, shops and guest houses but failed to pay taxes, resulting in revenue loss.He alleged that previous panchayat members had failed to recover the dues, allowing the arrears to accumulate. Recovering the money would boost revenue and strengthen the panchayat’s financial position, he said.The gram sabha also resolved to withdraw the construction licence issued for Bhutani’s project. More than 50 Savorfond residents had submitted a representation seeking its cancellation, citing potential harm to groundwater, the environment, peace, structural stability, biodiversity and green cover, besides risks of landslides, water shortages and sewage problems.Naik said the panchayat would seek legal advice before convening a body meeting as a petition concerning the project was pending before the Supreme Court.Panch member Maurello Carvalho demanded fresh tenders for door-to-door garbage collection in all wards and advertisements in local newspapers to fill vacant posts. Members also raised concerns over improper garbage management across the wards.Sarpanch Maria Azavedo chaired the gram sabha.
