This has reference to the report ‘Offshore Casinos disturbing commuters’ (Herald, May 22) on the illegal barricade set up on the footpath along the Captain of Ports jetty.
Your report states that the concerned authorities Capitan of Ports (COP), Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and the traffic police are displaying complete ignorance as to what is happening at the Maharaja Casino jetty footpath from COP office to Old Secretariat.
This is appalling and goes to show that there is connivance between these three authorities and the casino owners and that, they are hand-in-glove to deprive the citizens of their right to use the public footpath.
The Capitan of Ports should know that they have absolutely no right to allow setting up of commercial structures on public footpaths.
Public footpaths belong to the citizens and fall under the jurisdiction of CCP, who has to protect its property from encroachers.
It goes without saying that the Mayor and Commissioner of the CCP and the COP should take immediate action to remove the illegal zinc sheet barricade erected on the edge of the road thus usurping the public footpath, as otherwise they will only be inviting action for challenging the Order of the High Court of Goa on encroachment of Public ways.
Public footpaths are meant for pedestrians and not for casinos, cruise boats or any other agency to exploit commercially.
Also the IGP cannot feign ignorance at this illegality since traffic chaos is happening right under his nose due to pedestrians and tourists jumping onto the road as the footpath is blocked.
It is high time authorities entrusted with responsibility of looking after interests and safety to the citizens do their job rather than connive with vested commercial interests to suit their own agenda.
As a senior citizen living right in front of the Capitan of Ports jetty, I have the first-hand experience of the illegalities.
I have written innumerable letters to the concerned authorities but to no avail. I think it is high time we get rid of this menace in the City of Panaji which has adversely affected the quality of life of its citizens.
