Team Herald
PANJIM: The North Goa Planning and Development Authority has directed the removal of all the structures within the 30-metre buffer zone of the Calangute crematorium. The NGPDA action comes in view of the site inspection it carried out in April 2016.
“On the site you assured the inspection team led by the chairman that you will remove the structures constructed by violating the planning norms of maintaining 30 metres buffer zone as mandatory from crematorium situated at Calangute within your property,” said a letter issued by NGPDA Member Secretary R K Pandita to Club 69, Estrela De Mar Beach Resort.
The letter further states that the owner had requested not to issue demolition notice as he has taken steps to remove the structures. However, the letter adds, an inspection carried out on 27-06-2016 revealed that he had failed to keep up his word.
“Hence you are directed to clear the 30 meter distance around the crematorium within the property within seven days of receipt of this order failing which the authority will clear the 30 metre distance from crematorium by removing all structures and installations at the cost of removal to the owner,” the letter said.
Addressing the media, Calangute MLA and NGPDA Chairman Michael Lobo blamed the panchayat for the current situation. “The licence to the resort was given by the VP Calangute in 2013 and thereafter renewed every year. The recent renewal was on 17/3/2016 signed by acting Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira,” he said.
Lobo further said that false news is being spread that NGPDA has given the permissions for the hotel. “How does the NGPDA come into picture?” he asked. “The Calangute panchayat goes on issuing illegal temporary licences and blame NGPDA. I will write to the Director of Panchayats and ask them to issue a letter to Calangute panchayat to take NOC from NGPDA before granting any temporary licence,” he said.
Reacting to Lobo’s comments Calangute Acting Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said the MLA is misguiding the villagers. “Yes we (panchayat) gave them the licence but that was only based on the licence issued by CRZ and as such we had no clue of any buffer zone around the crematorium,” he told Herald adding, “it is the duty of NGPDA to explain it to us”.
“When we got intimation from the Devasthan committee and CRZ on NGT direction, we revoked the licence,” he said. Sequeira also said that according to Form I & XIV the land belongs to the panchayat.
