One of the greenest and daintiest villages blended in a scenic backdrop of Goa lies the tiny village of Saligao. It is barely 6 kms from Mapusa and around 10 from capital city of Panjim and is well known for its 125-year-old parish church of Mae de Deus.
However, off late the village has been in the news for the illegal constructions going around and interestingly the authorities have decided to turn a blind eye to all these illegalities.
Rampant hill cutting for building residential houses in the green belt, filling of paddy fields for construction and commercial activities have become the order of the day and the panchayat as well as other authorities seem to have no knowledge of what’s going on right under their nose.
Based on the complaints from the locals TEAM HERALD visited a locality near a famous night club Westend and what was witnessed was shocking.
Around 35,000 sq mts of land was occupied and illegally constructed on a slope connecting to Pilerne Village.
Further inquiries revealed that the constructions in the Survey numbers 132/1, 134/1, 134-2, 134-3 up to Survey no 134/15 are suspicious and reportedly have no proper permissions.
Locals who did not want to be named said that the population is all migrants who have purchased the plots at a throw away price from a local and built the houses with the blessings of panchayat members.
“The illegalities have gone so far that some of them have been allotted house numbers even before they started building the houses,” alleged a local.
This is a green area and any construction without permission is punishable, said another resident.
“It is not only the constructions we are worried about but we are also now concerned about the safety of villagers as the people residing here seem dangerous and threaten villagers whenever they complain. This is going to be another Chimbel or Moti Dongor in Goa,” said one villager adding “we are scared some anti-social elements may take shelter in these illegal houses”.
Talathi Prasad Naik admitted to Team Herald it was a green belt and no construction is allowed but he said whenever there is complaint he forwards it to a higher up like Deputy Collector ort the Flying Squad and the panchayat.
“We have issued stop work orders to many constructions but there are many who already have House numbers and people claim them to be old structures,” he said.
The illegal constructions mushrooming in Saligao were the topic of heated discussion at the gram sabha held in the village in January. Members alleged that the panchayat is turning a blind eye to such illegalities.
Not only the cutting of the hill, comunidade lands have been illegally occupied and houses have been consgtructed alleged another villager.
Saligao Comunidade Attorney Austin D’Gama says he has complained and raised the issue many times but to no avail.
“As comunidade body we have limited powers we can only complain to panchayat and authorities who have to take action against illegalities,” he said.
Gama further says the paddy fields are being illegally filled for constructions and commercial purposes.
“I have personally brought up to the notice of the panchayat about 76 illegal constructions and more keep on adding but it is for them to act,” he states.
When Herald contacted Saligao Sarpanch Lafira R e Gomes she said the panchayat was very much acting on any illegalities.
“Whenever we have complaints we call for inspections and issue stop work orders, it is not that we don’t act,” she says.
When pointed to the illegal land-filling and illegal constructions near club Westend, She replied, “see these are not during my tenure and I cannot comment on them. But whenever we have any specific complaints we act.”
What is even more interesting is the Pilerne Citizens Forum had a meeting near Saligao panchayat on Sunday against the ODPs and PDAs but made not a single mention of illegalities was made by Saligao villagers.
When contacted for his comments, Saligao MLA and Minister for Housing, RDA and Ports Jayesh Salgaocar said he was ignorant of any such thing.
“Nothing has been brought to my notice but if there is any such illegality I will definitely take strict action against them,” he said.
Salgaocar continued, “I will not allow any illegalities in my constituency. I have been with the villagers whenever they have opposed any illegalities and will continue to do so.”
