Most of the temporarily shacks set up on the Coastal areas like Agonda, Khola in Canacona are not yet demolished despite being served notices, alleged Pramod Fal Desai, Ex-Sarpanch and sitting panch of AgondaVillage Panchayat, Canacona.
Speaking to Herald, with some valid documents and notices, Fal Desai said that more than fifty per cent Seasonal/Temporary structures, including shacks and tents which were erected on the coastal belt of Agonda Village Panchayat in the last season have not been demolished. Some of the owners of these structures, have meanwhile, restarted their businesses without obtaining a clearance certificate causing a huge loss to the panchayat, the former sarpanch informed.
He further said that on the terms and conditions incorporated in the seasonal licence and as per clause 21 the licence is valid from October 9, 2015 to May 31, 2016.
As per clause 10 of the Panchayat Act, it is mandatory to remove, demolish/dismantle the permitted shacks/huts within the period of seven days from the date of expiry of the licence period and to restore the land into its original form and obtain clearance certificate on or before June 10, 2016.
Since many of them have not obtained any clearance certificate from the panchayat, the Sarpanch along with the Secretary and ward member, visited the property and surveyed structures and discovered that their licence had expired at the end of May, 2016. Till date many have not demolished the said seasonal/temporary structures, thereby violating Clause 10 of the said licence.
The panchayat therefore, in its meeting held on 15/06/2016, had resolved to invoke Clause 15 of the licence thereby forfeiting the amount deposited while issuing the licence and also to demolish the said seasonal/temporary structures.
Therefore, the secretary of Village Panchayat of Agonda, directed to demolish the Seasonal/Temporary structures within seven days, from receipt of the notice failing which the amount of Rs 5000 which was deposited at the time of obtaining licence would be forfeited and the Panchayat shall demolish the said structures and the cost required for the demolition to be recovered from owners.
Fal Desai further said that around 73 licences were issued last year for more than 2000 structures but more than fifty per cent structures have not been demolished due to total negligence of the panchayat. He said that the sarpanch failed to act immediately in spite of taking resolution at the monthly meeting. In the event of the structures not being demolished the villagers would agitate and lead a morcha to the panchayat demanding justice to those people who had followed the law and dismantled their structures in time, he added.
