Gram Panchayat members flay proposed coffee curing centre

Members complained at a special meeting that students in the nearby school will suffer if coffee curing centre was made functional. The meeting was convened in the wake of complaints filed by the local residents against the panchayat’s decision of leasing land for 20 years.

Gram Panchayat Vice-President Usha questioned President Bharathraj for leasing the land for 20 years without bringing the issue to the notice of the members. Meanwhile, Member Ratnamma Shetty lashing out at the President said, “those who leased the land for 20 years may go to any extend and make attempts to sell Gram Panchayat property.”

Another Member K L Vasu said that the agreement for the leasing of land for coffee curing centre was signed without taking members into confidence. Several organisations in the town are opposing the proposal, he said and accused Gram Panchayat Secretary of issuing license to the centre illegally.

The meet resolved to cancel the license issued for the coffee curing centre as the Secretary confessed his lapse.

Meanwhile, section of members including Santhosh, Praveen and Rafeeq argued in favour of the Gram Panchayat’s decision. They pointed out that there would be no issue of pollution since modern technology would be used to cure coffee.

The Gram Panchayat resolved that a meeting of local residents and other stakeholders should be convened to discuss the issue.