Team Herald
CAVELOSSIM: The Directorate of Vigilance’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Thursday commenced investigations into the case of an alleged desilting of a pond and erecting a temporary structure of a bar and restaurant in Survey No. 150/4 in the coastal village of Cavelossim.
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Acting upon the directives issued by the Goa Lokayukta of initiating an inquiry into the complaint filed before the Goa Lokayukta by a Curtorim resident Oswald Fernandes under Section 11 of the Goa Lokayukta Act, the ACB Vigilance Inquiry Officer Deputy Superintendent of Police Sucheta B Dessai conducted a joint site inspection along with the concerned government authorities such as the South Goa Deputy Collector-I, Water Resources Department (WRD) Works Division-II Executive Engineer, Inspector of Settlement and Land Records, Cavelossim Village Panchayat Secretary, Cavelossim Sarpanch Dionizio Dias and Ward Panch member Lumena Rodrigues, besides the complainant Fernandes.
In the four-hour long inquiry that commenced around 11 am and concluded only at 3 pm, after the Land Surveyor Department official identified the survey number of the disputed structure and property in Cavelossim, DySP Dessai inspected the ownership documents, panchayat NOCs, tax receipts and other documents of the property owner Sevana Zamira Jacques.
She also questioned the government authorities such as the WRD officials, Cavelossim panchayat officials and the property owner Jacques as part of the preliminary investigations into this case, informed reliable sources.
In September 2002, the former Goa Lokayukta retired Justice P K Misra had directed the ACB to inquire into Fernandes’ complaint of alleged illegal use of khazan land and paddy fields in Cavelossim and allotment of house numbers by the village panchayat by a senior police officer not below the rank of DySP.
In his order, the Goa Lokayukta retired Justice Misra said, “The allegations relating to illegal allotment of house numbers and the matter relating to the panchayat turning a blind eye relating to illegal use of khazan land and alleged paddy fields are serious and require deeper attention. Even the notices issued by the Deputy Town Planner indicated about certain violations. Without expressing any opinion on all these matter, this institution thinks it appropriate to issue directions to the ACB to inquire into the matter through a senior police officer, not below the rank of DySP, and to initiate appropriate action if necessary depending upon the inquiry. All pending matters should be disposed off expeditiously.”
In his complaint, Fernandes had stated that the panchayat had allotted house numbers and had initiated no action in the erection of this structure in a low lying paddy field.
