FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the State government will approach the Supreme Court against the High Court's order to seal 175 structures at Anjuna and Vagator beach belt.
Speaking to reporters at his official residence in the city, Sawant said the decision has been taken to support those who have legal construction and business licences.
“The Anjuna-Caisua village panchayat and the panchayat secretary have presented wrong information before the High Court of Bombay at Goa and submitted a wrong affidavit. This is not correct for the people. We have asked that an intervention petition be filed in the High Court,” Sawant said.
“Government is also filing an intervening petition in the Supreme Court against the order, in favour of people having legal construction and business licences. The Government is ready to help them,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “of course, it is the mistake of the Panchayat Secretary.”
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo asked why should people suffer and be penalised because of the mistake of the Panchayat Secretary.
“Government of the day should intervene in order to protect the locals. They are paying all the required taxes to the government. If the Panchayat Secretary did not give permission to construct the temporary hut or restaurant then what is the mistake of the local people? The Panchayat Secretary should have known the law. He made the mistake and we have to face the music. We have to go to the Supreme Court. This is not right,” he said.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on February 13, 2024, ordered sealing of as many as 175 commercial establishments situated on the beach stretch in the jurisdiction of Anjuna-Caisua village panchayat and to file compliance report within next 10 days.
While hearing a public interest litigation suo-motu in the matter of illegal construction, the Court asked the Anjuna-Caisua village panchayat and the Bardez Block Development Officer (BDO) to seal the establishments and submit action taken report within next 10 days.
The court observed that of the commercial set-ups, 45 have some sort of clearance from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) but about 130 have neither any clearance from GCZMA nor any permissions under section 66 of the Panchayat Raj Act.
On April 26, 2023, the High Court had stated that merely on the basis of house tax, electricity and water connections, one cannot claim that the structures are legal.
On February 19, the Anjuna villagers observed bandh and held a public meeting against the order with a demand that the government intervene in the matter and allow them to continue with their businesses.
