Says comunidades depend on administrator for every action
TEAM HERALD
TIVIM: Miffed by criticism that her office had done little to safeguard comunidade property from encroachments, Administrator of Comunidades (North) Irene Sequeira has hit back at the comunidades for only depending on the administrator, instead of initiating its own action.
Reacting to allegations by the Tivim Comunidade that her office had failed to demolish encroachments on comunidade land, Sequeira said, “We are not silent. In fact, we are issuing show-cause notices to owners of these illegal structures.”
“When we decide to demolish encroachments, the encroachers petition the courts. The matter is either sub-judice or the parties concerned obtain a stay on the demolition.”
Sequeira insisted that local comunidades should not remain silent spectators regarding encroachments and need to be proactive in the matter.
“If there is an illegal structure in my compound, will I keep quiet? No. I will break it and clear the area. In the same way, the local comunidade should issue a show-cause notice when they see an encroachment and should demand the removal of the structure within a week, failing which it should be demolished,” said Sequeira.
“The first procedure is to discuss the matter in the general body meeting and if the general body is not there, then the matter should be passed by the managing committee. Issue the show-cause notice as per the resolution and intimate my office, before going ahead with the demolition.”
“At least two houses were demolished in Anjuna recently after issuing a show-cause notice and without going to court, provided that nobody is residing in the house and it is vacant,” she added.
“But if my office has to issue a show-cause notice, there are so many procedures to be followed. Encroachers then go to the court and obtain a stay on the demolition.”
Sequeira said she has clearly instructed the local comunidades to take action on illegalities within their jurisdiction.
“But local comunidades will act only if they have interest and concern in safeguarding their property,” said Sequeira.
“Why are comunidade committees set up? Don’t they have any powers to act on illegal constructions? Is the committee only there to write letters to the administrator’s office? If that is the case, why do we require the committees in the local comunidades? We employ the Escrivao precisely to guide the committees of these comunidades,” Sequeira added.
Responding to the Tivim comunidade attorney’s allegations that though only six plots were approved, hundreds of constructions have sprouted on comunidade land, Sequeira shot back, “I am not involved in this. Sometimes, an illegal construction starts overnight and the administrator cannot go and protect the land. It is the duty of the comunidade concerned to stop the illegality and protect its land.”
“The local comunidade can issue 2-3 show-cause notices as sometimes there are people residing in illegal structures and they need time to move elsewhere. But nowhere in the books of law is it mentioned that we have to issue them 2-3 notices as demolition can be done with one notice also,” said Sequeira.
