MAPUSA
The Calangute panchayat has decided to act tough and remove all illegal structures/huts/stalls which have mushroomed in open places and streets in the coastal village.
Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said illegal structures have been erected at various places at Khobra vaddo, Porba vaddo and Agar vaddo in open places, streets and road widening areas.
He also said that business activities were being carried out in these illegal structures without any details of the owners or operators and further these owners were neither known nor traceable.
“Besides causing inconvenience to the public and pedestrians, these structures prove to be hazardous from the sanitary and health point of view,” Sequeira said.
A major fire had eliminated more than 50 huts occupied by migrants at Agarvaddo recently. The close proximity of the huts made firefighting operations difficult while improper access did not allow movement of fire tender to the site.
The sarpanch said that the panchayat in its fortnightly meeting resolved to remove illegal huts and stalls under Sections 66 and 100 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994 as well as on the orders of the High Court.
“All those who have erected such structures and conducting businesses are directed to remove the huts/stalls within seven day failing which the panchayat will remove the same through the panchayat demolition squad,” Sequeira said, in a public notice issued on a local daily on August 31.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had also recently said that illegal huts were built on private properties and the locals were giving them on rent to migrants.
He had said such shanties could prove dangerous during incidents of fire and other instances.
He had also urged the authorities and the local panchayat to act tough on such illegal activities.
