Illegal structures survive with pillars of political support
The demolition of a portion of La Calypso resort in Baga on Wednesday has put the spotlight on the use or misuse of government machinery to settle political scores. It is alleged that as long as Joseph Sequeira and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo were friends, La Calypso survived the bulldozer. That is how the structure was overlooked during a demolition drive in 2012. Then, the two political players in the area fell out and the outward sign of that burning of bridges was demolition of the La Calypso structure. Lobo tried to explain away the issue by saying that in 2012 the structure extended only two meters onto the road. It was demolished now because the owners had expanded it further. The owner asserted that the structure was 15 years old and Joseph Sequeira used the incident to take a pot shot at Lobo. Truth be said, none of the three are innocent. The structure survived because of political patronage and was demolished when that equation broke down. So, no one is clean enough to cast the first stone. All are guilty of using and misusing the system for illegal gains. The only saving grace for the trio is that the case is, more or less, the rule and not the exception.
This is not how the system should function, but this is how it usually does. The construction of a resort on land meant for construction of the highway in Porvorim and the construction of buildings in road widening area of NH17, on account of which the road cannot be widened to accommodate four lanes, are examples of how political patronage is used to violate basic planning laws. The manner in which laws were altered to grant permission for construction of a housing project in Carmona is another instance. Encroachments on footpaths, extension of shop and restaurant frontages, construction of permanent structures for beach shacks, the list of illegal work is endless and panchayats and municipalities are unable to cope with it. The general approach is build first, worry later. There have been instances when the courts have stepped in to demolish structures, but the process is slow and tedious and usually grinds to a halt if not nudged forward by individual interest.
If today parts of Baga and Calangute are congested, it is because planning laws and bylaws have been flouted with impunity. The area continues to retain its ‘entertainment hub’ status but it is slowly deteriorating into a low cost tourism spot. Initially, efforts were made to broaden roads and construct footpaths and this approach has changed some areas for the better, but the congested spots have not gained and that is because of entrenched interests, lack of political will and selective demolition.
This is definitely not the way forward. Illegal structures have to go, but the process to demolish them is lengthy and panchayats are not willing to invest time or money in nightmarish endeavours. Perhaps, a better way of going about it is to first ensure that roads and footpaths are not encroached upon. Parking spaces must be maintained and smooth flow of traffic must be the guiding principle. If Michael Lobo can prove that the demolition of the La Calypso extension is part of a larger plan to enforce along the Candolim-Calangute-Baga stretch, he might be able to deflect the charge of selective demolition.
