THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
In a move that has sparked allegations of preferential treatment and renewed criticism over the functioning of government departments, the Bardez Block Development Office has scheduled a hearing within just three days of the Saligao panchayat issuing a stop-work order against a controversial residential housing project at Bairo Alto-Vaddo, Saligao.
The speed with which the matter has been taken up has surprised local residents, many of whom say they routinely wait weeks or even months for their grievances to receive official attention.
They questioned whether the same urgency would have been shown had the applicants not been persons of influence.
Block Development Officer-I Pratamesh Anil Shankardas has issued notices to the Saligao panchayat and several residents opposing the project, informing them that a hearing on the Delhi-based developers' – Harish Arora and Arun Chaudary – applications has been fixed for Friday, July 17, at 10.30 am before the Court of the BDO-I at the government complex in Mapusa.
"The date of hearing has been fixed on July 17 at 10.30 am in the office of the Court of the Block Development Officer-I, Bardez. You are informed that you should appear either personally or through a legal practitioner or recognised agent to state your objection, if any," the notice states.
The hearing has been scheduled barely three days after Saligao Sarpanch Lucas Remedios issued a stop-work order on July 13, directing the developer to immediately halt all construction activities following complaints from local residents.
The sarpanch had also fixed a site inspection for July 20 to verify the alleged violations.
However, according to residents, construction activity has continued unabated despite the panchayat's order.
On Thursday, residents submitted a fresh complaint to the panchayat alleging that work was being carried out in blatant disregard of the stop-work notice and urging the local body to initiate immediate enforcement action.
"As every day the unauthorised construction continues, the violation becomes more serious, thereby frustrating the very purpose of the stop-work notice and eroding public confidence in the enforcement of the law," complainant Liberata Madeira stated in her representation.
Residents said the sequence of events has exposed what they describe as a glaring contrast in the functioning of government agencies.
While complaints from citizens often remain pending for prolonged periods, they pointed out that the developer's appeal has been listed for hearing within days, even as the alleged violations on the ground continue.
They questioned why there appeared to be greater administrative urgency in hearing the developer's challenge than in ensuring compliance with the panchayat's stop-work order.
