SUNDAY, MAY 05, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has asked Usgao-Ganjem Village Panchayat to inspect the status of 35 structures within its jurisdiction to check if they are illegal. The panchayat has been asked to issue stop work and demolition order depending on the status of the structures.
The Dhatwada Usgao Citizen Forum had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition against 35 persons for undertaking illegal constructions in property under Survey Nos. 236/0 of 905 of Village Usgao, Ponda, and that the Usgao Village Panchayat was not taking any action to prevent such constructions coming up at a fast pace.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Gaurish Malik submitted that pursuant to the petitioner’s complaint, the Deputy Town Planner by communication dated December 29, 2022 wrote to the Secretary/Sarpanch of Bandora that his office had not issued any technical clearance order for undertaking development in the property.
Further, the Deputy Town Planner informed the Secretary/Sarpanch that the property under reference is earmarked mainly as natural cover and only a minor area is in the Settlement Zone. Therefore, the Deputy Town Planner requested the Panchayat to initiate action under the provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
But despite the above letter, only show cause notices were issued to eight parties in 2023, but there was no follow-up action. As a result, 35 persons continued with the constructions even though such constructions had no technical clearance from the Planning Department or even permissions from the Panchayat.
The Court has asked the panchayat to file an affidavit explaining why no action was taken all this while assuming that the panchayat had not issued any permissions for such constructions.
