Questions raised about action to be initiated to raze structures
File photo of the notices pasted on the structures in road widening areas in Margao has gone abegging for want of action.
MARGAO
High Court’s suo moto cognizance of the issue of illegal constructions, including illegal structures along roadsides and within Municipal and Panchayat jurisdiction may leave the statutory bodies in a tight spot.
Reason: Authorities, including the PWD, panchayats and Municipalities have been caught napping in initiating action against glaring illegalities, encroachments and illegal constructions along the roadsides and in government properties on political considerations.
In fact, after the High Court took suo moto cognisance of the illegal structures along roadsides and Municipal and Panchayat limits, questions are raised in official circles how these very authorities, which have been found dragging their feet in initiating action, will go about razing down the illegalities.
Blame it on political patronage or otherwise, instances are galore of rampant encroachments and illegalities in road widening areas on PWD acquired land, besides encroachments on properties owned by the Health and Municipalities in the commercial capital and its outskirts.
Will the PWD raze
down encroachments?
The Public Works Department, Roads Division-VI had in August 2022 pasted notices on dozens of illegal structures and encroachments in road widening areas in Salcete talukas. In fact, over 50-60 illegal structures had come under the lens of then PWD Executive Engineer, Prasad Panandikar as the PWD went about pasting notices on the structures.
Exactly two years down the line, the structures, including illegal gadas and other structures continues to stand tall in the PWD road widening areas for want of action. Reason: After compiling the list of illegal structures and illegalities, PWD officials appears to have developed cold feet in taking the process to the logical conclusion.
In fact, a senior PWD official was categorical in saying that the demolition exercise was stalled by politicians and the powers that be as a result of which not a single structure has been razed down till date. “The PWD officials had compiled a comprehensive list of illegal structures and encroachments in the road widening areas of Margao, and surrounding areas. After around 50-60 structures were found in the road widening areas, notices were pasted on the structures for removal, but the same was stalled by the politicians”, informed a senior PWD Officer.
The PWD official pointed out that the department could not even go ahead with the removal of the unauthorised structures located near the Comba railway crossing despite the fact that these structures have been adding to the congestion in the area when the crossing is closed for vehicular traffic.
Awaiting action on health
dept property at Monte Hill
When an unprecedented disaster hit Kerala’s picturesque Wayanad district during the monsoons, august members of the Goa Legislative Assembly sounded caution and a warning that a similar fate may befall on Goa if the state’s verdant mountains and hills are tampered with.
Welcome to Monte Hill, where deputy Health Director and Medical Superintendent of South Goa district Hospital, Dr Rajendra Borkar has been struggling to clear illegal structures on the Health property’s property at Monte Hill since the last one year, throwing up a question
Consider this: On November 20, 2023, Dr Rajendra Borkar wrote a letter to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer, pointing out to the illegal huts erected in the Hospicio property bearing PT Sheet No. 191 Chalta No 75, Monte Hill, Margao. In fact, it was pointed out that the huts which were razed down on February 24, 2021 by the demolition Squad, Margao have been reconstructed.
Dr Borkar was apparently seeking the MMC’s help and assistance to conduct the panchanama and demolish the structures after conducting the codal formalities as per the Goa Municipalities Act.
Inquiries have revealed that the illegal structures were razed down by then Salcete Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar in 2021 in the run up to the Assembly elections.
Sources in the Health department informed that the MMC has not taken the complaint to the logical conclusion.
