PANJIM: Senior advocate S D Lotlikar, who was appointed as amicus curiae, on Friday sought time in the High Court of Bombay at Goa to pursue affidavits filed by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and Mapusa Municipal Council and the Electricity Department regarding removal of roadside hoardings in their respective jurisdictions.
During the hearing of the suo motu writ petition regarding illegal hoardings, Adv Lotlikar sought some time to consider the statement made in the compliance affidavit filed by the Department of Transport about the removal of vehicles with advertisement billboards/digital screens parked at the roadside at various locations.
CCP counsel Adv Somnath Karpe too sought time to file an affidavit and necessary undertakings by the Commissioner setting out the timeline within which the 16 existing unauthorised hoardings on high-rise buildings would be removed.
He stated that out of the 64 hoardings concerned, the CCP had removed 41 while two appeals filed in February 2024 were pending with regard to demolition notices for removal of hoardings before the Secretary (Urban Development). Also, five petitions were pending before the High Court single Judge with regard to demolition orders issued by the CCP.
The Court asked the Secretary (Urban Development) to hear and dispose of the two appeals within a month.
Regarding hoardings put up on electric poles on the centre of the National Highways, Additional Government Advocate Deep Shirodkar assured to appraise the Court as to the details of the tender issued by the Electricity Department allowing contractors to put up hoardings on electric poles within the Right of Way by June 21.
The Court asked the MoRTH to file an affidavit through the PWD Chief Engineers (Highways), setting out the action that it would take to ensure the removal of all advertisement hoardings on National Highways, within the Right of Way in the State by June 21.
Deputy Solicitor General Pravin Faldessai told the Court that the MoRTH, New Delhi, had issued a letter dated September 7, 2016, instructing all State PWD Chief Engineers to ensure the removal of advertisement hoardings on NH, which fall within the Right of way.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) stated that of the 23 representations of hoarding owners constructed within the No Development Zone (NDZ) along River Mandovi, it had 15 matters and the remaining representations will be disposed of by July 1.
The Mapusa municipal council submitted that of the 17 show cause notices issued, three orders for demolition were issued on April 26, 2024, while orders on the remaining 14 show cause notices, had been discharged. The matter will now be heard on June 21.
