Team Herald
ASSAGAO: In a latest development to the Oxel Spring case, the officials from Town and Country Planning and Land Survey Department remained conspicuous by their absence during the site inspection on Wednesday. The officials playing truant left the petitioners and residents dismayed, who termed it as clear violation of the High Court directive.
It is pertinent to note that the High Court in its last hearing had directed the TCP Department and the Department of Land Survey to conduct the inspection on February 19,
On Wednesday, no officials from the Land Survey department turned up while just a lone draughtsman Aditya Aroskar from the TCP Department arrived at the spot that too, 90 minutes late. Frantic efforts to contact the officials from the land survey department turned futile.
The Oxel Spring case is being heard in the High Court of Bombay at Goa pertaining to a multi-dwelling project near a heritage well, with each department connected to the case being directed to conduct a site inspection.
The TCP draughtsman declined to conduct the inspection as it would take time.
Petitioners Suraj Chodankar and Avertino Miranda lambasted the government officials for disrespecting the High Court directive, adding that the officials, who were supposed to inspect the site on Wednesday, failed to turn up and should be hauled up for contempt of court.
“We have been waiting since 3.30 pm and just one official from the TCP Department arrives at 5 pm. This is nothing but a joke on the High Court and the locals whose precious time has been taken for granted. We have been told by the lone TCP official that land survey officials got the letter three days back and needed more time. We fail to understand why they needed extra time. We are going to take this matter seriously before the Court and pray that these errant officials who take Court matter lightly will be dealt with sternly,” said Miranda.
He said that the Court would be updated about the development of the day during the next meeting and then it was for the Court to decide.
It may be recalled that the locals opposed the project coming up next to the spring. Since then various other departments conducted site inspections, but there was no clarity about the last two inspections being carried out by the TCP Department and the PWD.