TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa directed the Arambol Village Panchayat to issue demolition orders to the owners/occupants of 125 illegal structures at Girkarwada, Arambol. The directives came after the Panchayat informed the Court that the local body had already passed a resolution to demolish them.
While hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) suo motu regarding illegal and unauthorised constructions in Arambol, Adv Sajal Dhamija, representing the Electricity Department stated that the demolition works are almost complete and only some debris needs to be cleared. He stated that the Electricity Dept has been given time to file the compliance report on April 19.
Adv Pavithran, counsel for the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) told the Court that out of the 216 structures inspected, in all 66 structures require consent to operate. He submitted that 13 out of these 66 structures have produced consents to operate, while closure notices were issued to 53 structures and the same were sealed.
Arguing on behalf of the Arambol Village Panchayat, Adv Deepak Gaonkar stated that the commercial establishments continue to be sealed. He informed the Court that of the balance 91 structures, show cause notices have been issued to 21 structures and such show cause notices will be disposed of within next 30 days. Regarding the balance structures, Adv Gaonkar stated that compliance report will be filed within 10 days indicating the course of action that will be adopted by the village panchayat.
Former Arambol Sarpanch and current panchayat member Bernard Fernandes and his family had demolished 10 temporary structures while, there are still 18 permanent structures belonging to the former sarpanch's family.
The Court said that it will hear over these 18 permanent structures on April 24.
