Margao: After two years and twenty one hearings the Court of the Urban Development Minister has finally vacated his stay over the demolition of the alleged illegal structure of former Chairperson of MMC Gonzago Rebello. The Court of the UD Minister has also given time for the respondent to approach the High Court if he desires to.
In his order the UD Minister said “The ex-parte order dated 02/04/2015 passed by this Authority in terms of prayer of the Municipal Revision Petition No MIN/UD/OS/015 stands vacated and this revision Petition is dismissed”.
In his observations the UD Minister said “I have gone through the proceedings, written submissions and documents on file it is very clear before this Authority that there was a structure recorded in the name of Shri Julio Rebello earlier and it is also observed the said old structure was demolished at the time of construction of Mungul Residency by M/s Kurtarkar Real Estate Pvt. Ltd. In fact, it is very clear from the documents on file, that the suit structure is not the original structure that was existing before construction of the said building and was a mud house that was demolished by M/s Kurtarkar Real Estate Pvt. Ltd Since it was coming under road widening area and the said ‘Mungul Residency’ was constructed as per approved plans” said the observation.
“It is therefore clear that the suit structure is constructed by the Petitioner illegally and therefore cannot be protected by invoking the provisions of the Section 303 of Goa Municipalities Act, 1968” the order reads.
The Order further said that “This Authority is of the clear view that being an elected member of Margao Municipal Council, the petitioner should act responsibly and not indulge acts that contravene the provisions of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968”
It may be recalled that the MMC had earlier issued a demolition order against the structure of the former chairperson of MMC, Gonzaga Rebello after the hearing on the complaint of Savio Dias. The demolition was later stayed by the UD minister.
