MAPUSA
A close relative of BJP leader and Bastora panchayat member Subhash Morajkar has allegedly been caught on the wrong foot over an alleged unauthorised construction, with the Bastora panchayat issuing a stop-work order after a complaint claimed the construction was being carried out on a property claimed by the complainant as his tenanted land.
Prakash Krishna Morajkar, brother of Subhash Morajkar, has been directed by the panchayat to immediately stop the alleged construction on Survey No 99/4 at Bastora and produce the necessary permissions and property documents.
The action follows a complaint filed by Nilesh Mahanand Tamonkar of Karaswada, Mapusa, who claims to be a deemed tenant of the property known as “Boa Vista”.
Tamonkar has alleged that Morajkar was carrying out construction of around 200 square metres, comprising RCC columns and laterite masonry walls, without obtaining permissions from the competent authorities.
Tamonkar has claimed that his late father, Mahanand Babuso Tamonkar, was recorded as a tenant in the tenants’ column of Form I & XIV along with his brothers and that the family had been in possession of the property since the Portuguese regime.
Alleging that the construction could affect his tenancy and possessory rights, Tamonkar urged the panchayat to intervene and halt the work, claiming that the activity amounted to an attempt to usurp his tenanted property.
Acting on the complaint, Bastora Sarpanch Rakhi R Naroji issued immediate stop work notice and inspection under Section 64(1)(j), read with Section 82 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
The panchayat has directed Morajkar to submit permissions to its office within three days and remain present at the site on August 29 at 11 am with property documents, permissions and NOCs, if any.
The complainant has also been directed to identify the alleged illegal structure during the inspection.
The notice warns that failure to remain present would lead to an ex-parte inspection and further action under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
The development comes at a politically sensitive juncture, with Subhash Morajkar being a BJP leader and sitting panchayat member who recently lost the Zilla Panchayat election.
The allegations against his brother are yet to be established by the competent authorities.
