Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Herald reported on the illegal constructions in Saligao, Minister and local MLA Jayesh Salgaocar said he is initiating an inquiry into the matter.
Based on complaints from locals, Herald had visited a locality near a famous night club and had seen that around 35,000 sq meters of land had been occupied and there were illegal constructions on a slope connecting to Pilerne Village. Besides, several fields were illegally filled for commercial and residential activities.
Salgaocar said, “The flying squad consisting of Dy Collector and TCP officials will inquire into the matter and report back to me within a week,” he said.
Salgaocar further said that t no such illegalities will be allowed in his constituencies. “We will lodge a FIR and chargesheet if there are any illegalities found,” he said, adding, “First thing to be done is land will be reverted back to its original position.”
Herald inquiries had revealed that the constructions in the Survey numbers 132/1, 134/1, 134-2, 134-3 up to Survey no 134/15 were suspicious and had no proper permissions.
Locals said that the population comprises migrants who have purchased the plots at throw away price from a local and built houses with the blessings of panchayat members. “The illegalities are such that some of them have got house numbers even before they started building the houses,” a local alleged.
This is a green area and any construction without permission is punishable, said another resident.
“Not only constructions, we are now concerned about the safety of villagers as the people residing here seem dangerous and threaten villagers whenever they complain. This is going to be another Chimbel or Moti Dongor in Goa,” said a villager adding, “We are scared some anti-social elements may take shelter in these illegal houses.”
