PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has sought a response from the village panchayat of Anjuna Caisua to explain to the court how it plans to proceed against the number of structures along the coast that have been identified as suspect by an inspection team formed by the High Court that is looking into cases of mushrooming illegal constructions along the Anjuna coast.
A report in this regard was submitted before the High Court on Tuesday.
“The crux of the report is that we have inspected and the inspection report is produced on record. We have pointed out the structures which are existing on the Anjuna beach area and they have pointed out the constructions and the status thereof,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam said.
“Now the situation is the HC has kept this matter for tomorrow for the panchayat to tell the court as to what action they can take, more particularly with regard to commercial activities that will be carried out in these constructions. What is the method and modus by which the panchayat will take action, that is what is to be reported to the court tomorrow,” Pangam said.
“It is not stated in this inspection report as to how many structures are legal and how many are illegal. It gives a status insofar as the existence of these structures on the beach and that will have to be verified based on the records that will have to be called from these people and that will disclose the legality or illegality in so far as these structures are concerned and accordingly action will have to be taken,” Pangam added.
“Insofar as the CRZ authority is concerned, the term has come to an end. At this stage it may not be possible for that authority which doesn’t exist to take action,” he added.
At the last hearing the High Court had ordered the enforcement authorities to maintain a “strict vigil” of violations along the coast.
“The Director of Panchayats should issue directives to all the coastal panchayats within a week from today to maintain a strict vigil on any illegal constructions coming up within their jurisdiction. The Panchayats and its members will be held responsible if such structures come up and no action is taken immediately by the Panchayats under the provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act,” the High Court observed.
“The Panchayats should not resort to the usual defences that there was no complaint or were unaware of unlawful structures mushrooming within their jurisdiction. The Deputy Collectors, Electricity Department officials, and the Police authorities should also keep a strict vigil. We have noticed that the Police authorities hardly cooperate with the authorities in preventing illegal constructions, which blatantly come up even in no development zones. Therefore, the DGP should issue, within a week from today, directives to all the police stations in the coastal areas to maintain a strict vigil on the illegal constructions on beaches and within the coastal areas. Merely because no properly constituted GCZMA exists, such activities cannot be permitted to flourish. The other Authorities are equally responsible for preventing such constructions,” the High Court said.
“Meanwhile, throughout the tourist season, the persons who put up such illegal constructions without regard for the environment or the legal provisions occupy and commercially exploit such constructions,” the High Court also said.
