PANJIM: Panchayats Deputy Director Chandrakant Shetkar on Wednesday directed the Tiswadi Block Development Officer (BDO) to take appropriate action on a complaint filed by Advocate Aires Rodrigues against the alleged illegal bungalow built by Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar at Old Goa.
The BDO has been directed to take action in terms of the provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act and to submit a compliance report within four weeks. Rodrigues on April 16 had served a legal notice on the Chief Secretary, North Goa Collector and Director of Panchayats over the alleged illegal bungalow built next to the Basilica of Bom Jesus and had called for immediate action on the serious violation of law. Rodrigues had stated that in a letter to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, he had drawn their attention that in total violation of law a huge bungalow has been built in survey No 144/1 and 144/2 by Madkaikar within the prohibited 300 mts from the Central Protected Monument Basilica of Bom Jesus Church with the compound wall of the bungalow being less than 50 mts from the protected monument.
He stated that in their reply ASI said that they do not have magisterial powers either for removal of encroachment or for demolition of illegal structures and asked him to approach the local authorities for further action.
