PANJIM, JAN 12
The coastal panchayats are still sleeping over the order of the High Court passed two years ago that wanted them to identify and take action against illegal structures built on No Development Zone (NDZ) post February 19, 1991.
A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court while hearing a suo motto writ petition had passed a detailed order on September 26, 2007.
The panchayats were directed to complete the exercise by January 31, 2008 and were given copy of the survey map prepared by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records showing location of the structures.
Panchayats were required to issue notices to structures that came up post 1991, and issue demolition orders against illegal structures.
The panchayats were also directed to regularly monitor the NDZ area to ensure that no additional structures in the 200 meters zone were constructed and to take action in accordance with law if any new construction is detected in the panchayat area.
However, when the matter came up for hearing on Monday morning it came to light that panchayats had not complied with the orders of the Court.
Most coastal panchayats are still in the stage of issuing show cause notices and there was no action whatsoever. Some coastal panchayats had not filed their affidavits, told Adv Norma Alvares, an amicus curiae.
A Division Bench of Justices P B Majumdar and N A Britto taking strong exception to this delay caused by the panchayats, issued fresh direction to panchayats to file affidavits along with the report of data of show cause notices issued, and results thereof.
They have been warned that strict action would be taken against the panchayats that have failed to comply with the court directives.
The Court has also directed the State government to take action against panchayats that failed in their statutory obligations while posting the hearing for January 19.
