Building lacks mandatory Occupancy Certificate; lapses flagged
The new commercial complex of the Mapusa Municipal Council was inaugurated on Friday amid controversy.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
After being postponed twice, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) finally inaugurated its six-storeyed commercial complex near the old municipal building.
However, the event was mired in controversy as the structure lacks the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC).
Sources revealed that the building's construction licence has lapsed, and its renewal would require fresh approvals from the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA).
Despite this, a senior municipal engineer defended the inauguration, claiming there was no harm in opening the building and that the OC could be obtained later. “No one is starting a business immediately. We’ll complete the formalities and apply for the OC,” the engineer said, requesting anonymity.
The move has drawn criticism from activists and opposition councillors over legal and procedural violations. Just hours before the scheduled inauguration of the new commercial complex, opposition councillor Shashank Narvekar strongly urged MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal to postpone the event, citing multiple legal, regulatory and procedural lapses.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson, Narvekar expressed shock over the decision to go ahead with the inauguration on June 6, after it had already been postponed twice earlier. He alleged that the complex was being inaugurated despite not having obtained the necessary Occupancy Certificate as it doesn’t have no-objection certificates (NOCs) from crucial departments including the Health Department, Fire & Emergency Services, Electricity Department, and Public Works Department (PWD).
Narvekar pointed out that during a council meeting held on May 7, it was noted that the construction licence for the complex had not been renewed in time, raising serious concerns about the legality of the structure. He further reminded the Chairperson that the High Court of Bombay at Goa is currently hearing a writ petition filed by M/s Sandeep Bharne, who has claimed that the commercial complex encroaches on his property rights.
In a meeting held on November 8, 2024, the council took cognisance of the matter after the High Court directed MMC and the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to resolve the dispute amicably. However, Narvekar stated that, to date, no efforts had been made by the Chief Officer or other officials to initiate settlement discussions with the petitioner.
“The complex remains incomplete and continues to rely on a temporary electricity connection obtained during the construction phase,” Narvekar highlighted, adding that the failure to resolve the land dispute and obtain mandatory NOCs renders the project non-compliant with legal and ethical standards.
The councillor also drew parallels with a previous unresolved case involving the construction and auction of 108 commercial shops in Mapusa without proper permissions or occupancy certificates, which resulted in financial losses and erosion of public trust.
“It would be contemptuous and a legally risky move to proceed with the inauguration in the absence of regulatory compliance,” Narvekar cautioned, stating that the MMC, as the highest licensing authority in Mapusa, must lead by example in upholding the rule of law and ethical governance.
----
‘Shadowy dealings’ in Mapusa complex, alleges social activist
MAPUSA: Social activist and long-time Mapusa resident Sanjay Barde has raised serious concerns over the legality and transparency of the new commercial complex built by the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), terming the project “shadowy” and potentially embroiled in a murky political arrangement.
Barde said that while citizens are not against development, any project undertaken by a civic body must follow due process and remain free from suspicion. He pointed out that the new commercial complex is being inaugurated despite not having secured the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC), which is a legal requirement before any structure can be operationalised.
“Development is welcome, but it must be clean, accountable and lawful,” Barde said while addressing the media ahead of the scheduled inauguration of the complex.
Referring to a legal dispute filed by private plot owner Sandeep Bharne, who has claimed that about 100 square metres of his land was encroached upon during construction, Barde questioned the timing of the complaint.
“Why did the landowner raise the issue only after the first floor was constructed? Were the municipal engineers unaware of the land boundaries?” he alleged.
He also lamented that several similar structures built by the council in the past – such as the shops above Aram Travels building near the taxi stand, shops above the Channekar building and the shops near the pottery market – continue to lie vacant, generating no revenue for the council.
“This complex could face the same fate. We keep creating infrastructure without a proper plan and then watch it decay,” Barde said.
Reiterating his concerns, Barde said the absence of the Occupancy Certificate renders the structure illegal, and any attempt to inaugurate or use it would amount to a violation of civic norms and construction laws.
“This is not just about one building. Mapusa is sinking into administrative rot, and this complex is yet another example of how far things have fallen,” he concluded.
