Shoots letter to Collector, demands action
GLENN COSTA
glenn@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Indian Navy has written to State authorities stating that it has found encroachments on what it claims is naval land opposite Dabolim Airport and has demanded that the administration take immediate action to prevent encroachment and parking on it.
Letters sent this month to the Collector, South Goa with copies to the Deputy Collector, MPDA and Police accessed by Herald show that the Navy has alleged encroachment on defence land of survey numbers 13/1, 20/1, and 83/1. Title to this land is sub-judice as both the Navy and the comunidade have laid claims to this land that is bang opposite the airport.
One of the letters by Captain NK Joshi, Commanding Officer (AOD), states that a site inspection by authorized naval personnel on October 14 has shown that workers apparently employed by the Chicalim Comunidade are leveling and excavating the land on survey nos 13/1, 20/1 and 83/1. According to the Navy, the work is going on in survey Nos 13/1 and 20/1 and a fence is also being erected on survey no 13/1. It also alleged that gravel and rubble was being dumped there.
The letter to the administration complains that vehicles are being allowed to park and food stalls too have sprung up in the area. Apparently, Rs 40 per vehicle is being charged for four hours by the ‘encroachers’ while food stalls are being openly run on the land that is being claimed by the Navy. Naval authorities have asked the Collector to ensure that no party is allowed to carry out any kind of construction, development or commercial activity in the area and any illegal constructions and encroachments be removed or demolished and the land restored to its original state as the matter was sub-judice in the administrative tribunal.
The letter also emphasizes that the land needs to be maintained as prohibited area for all parties and demands
that the CrPC be invoked (Section 145) to ensure that there is no breach of law in the area.
This latest issue comes on the back of the Indian Navy earlier having objected to a development by a private party in survey no 8/1 of Dabolim ~ the land which was earlier acquired for parking and allied activities for Airport Authority of India and later de-notified. The Navy’s objections in the earlier matter ~ that the site was less than 200 meters from the main gate of naval air station INS Hansa and equally close to the AAI Cargo Complex and so could be easily used as a safe haven by disruptive elements for gathering intelligence as full view and access to the runway ~ would presumably be applicable in this case too.
