MARGAO: Questions have been raised about the promised plan of action by the South Goa District Collector and the revenue department to clear encroachments found on Comunidade lands in the district. Earlier this year, a circular had been issued by the Revenue Department calling for complaints of encroachments to be examined and necessary action taken as per relevant provisions of the Code of Comunidades and Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction Act) 1995 (Goa Act 20 of 1995) without any further delay. The circular had made the collector and deputy collectors and the Administrator of Comunidades responsible and accountable for any encroachment in their jurisdiction and directions were issued to them regarding compiling weekly action taken reports.
“Collectors and Administrators are not serious about dealing with illegal encroachments on Comunidade lands and such directives issued by the government are conveniently ignored. Their apathy encourages the encroachers and demotivates the Comunidade Committee members who function on an honorary basis,” said Savio Correia, the President of Margao and Aquem Comunidades and the Gaunkar of Verna Comunidade.
