MARGAO
Guess how many of the 50-odd gaddas, structures and encroachments that have come up on government-acquired land for road construction have been razed down by the PWD, Roads Division in Salcete.
The much-hyped exercise to rid the illegal structures and gaddas along the road widening areas across Salcete taluka launched by the PWD, Roads Division has turned out a damp squib. Blame it on political patronage extended to the encroachers by the powers that be or simply indifference, most of the gaddas, structures and encroachments stand tall in the government-acquired area.
Notices were put up on the 50-odd illegal encroachments, including gaddas around Margao and Salcete for their removal within seven days. The notices put up on the structures in the first week of August last, with a direction not only to remove the encroachments but restore the land to its original condition.
It’s now almost three months since the notices were pasted on the illegal structures, but the illegalities stand tall right under the nose of the PWD officials, minus the notices pasted by the PWD officials.
Inquiries by The Goan have only revealed that while the PWD, Roads Division had put up the notices on the gaddas as per the instructions of the PWD Chief Engineer, no further instructions have come to date to take the initiative to its logical conclusion.
“The department had issued the notices as per the instructions of the higher-ups. We are still awaiting directions from the higher officials on how to go about the work. Further action in the matter will depend on further instructions from the department higher-ups,” remarked an official.
Incidentally, when the PWD had started the exercise of putting up the notices on the structures in a Panchayat area, local politicos had tried to browbeat the officials not to go ahead with the exercise.
It could not be gathered whether the powers that be are behind the inaction by the PWD in taking the demolition notices to their logical conclusion.
Incidentally, when the PWD had initiated the exercise in early August by putting up notices on the structures, questions were raised in many quarters whether the PWD will have its way in clearing the encroachments or the powers that be will block the drive to protect its vote bank.
PWD officials were not willing to comment on whether the exercise is put off or still under active consideration, only saying the department is waiting for instructions to take the drive to its logical conclusion.
The PWD notices put up on the structures and encroachments stated that the kiosks are being operated by persons on government property belonging to the PWD without any authorisation from this office. The notices further stated that the kiosks and encroachments are causing not only hindrances to smooth parking and movement of vehicles but have been illegal, encroaching and occupying government land without any consent, authority or approval.
In this respect, the encroachers were directed to immediately remove the kiosks and structures and restore the land to its original condition within seven days failing which the office shall be forced to remove the illegal structure without any further notice and intimation,” the notice warned.
What’s, however, interesting to note is that some of these structures are located at busy traffic junctions and accident-prone zones, throwing up questions about whether the PWD officials will take the initiative to its logical conclusion by securing the acquired land and rid the junctions and roads of the traffic snarls.
MMC has task at hand against mushrooming roadside vendors
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council also has a task at hand on how to crack a whip against the makeshift businesses and mushrooming vendors along the roadsides in the Municipal jurisdiction.
The Municipality has been grappling with illegal vendors and make-shift gadda structures in the Municipal jurisdiction in recent times. One can come across gaddas making their presence felt at dusk at many places in the city.
That’s not all. The civic body has so far failed to address the issue of licenced fast food kiosks becoming a permanent feature at the Margao old bus stand opposite the KTC bus stand. Officials in the know informed that while the Municipal licence mandates the gadda owners to take back the kiosk to their residence, most of the gaddas are parked on the bus stand itself, violating the terms and conditions of the Municipal licence.
Outgoing Margao Municipal Chief Officer Rohit Kadam had initiated a drive to crack a whip against the gaddas parked at the old bus stand, but the ground reality remains unchanged.
The recent allegations of hafta collection from roadside vendors are an indication of the tug of war on the ground to control the space for business activities in the commercial capital.
