MMC directs establishment to operate in area mentioned in licence
MAPUSA
In a significant move, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has, for the second time in two years, ordered the demolition of illegal extensions at the Goa Bagayatdar Bazaar, a popular commercial establishment located at Shetya-vaddo, Mapusa.
The order, issued by MMC Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar, directs the business to restrict its operations to an area of 82.43 square meters as per the Trade Licence issued by the council.
This ruling mandates the removal of illegally constructed structures, including a mezzanine floor spanning the entire ground floor of the building and sheds erected in both the front and rear setbacks of the premises.
Goa Bagayatdar has been given two weeks to comply with the order. Failure to do so will result in enforcement actions by the MMC’s Taxation Section, which could include sealing the premises.
The complainant, Siddhi Naik, expressed satisfaction with the order, stating that it compels Goa Bagayatdar to remove all unauthorized structures. “If they fail to comply within two weeks, the premises will be sealed, and they will no longer be able to operate,” Naik said.
This is not the first time action has been taken against the illegal structures. In 2022, former MMC Chief Officer Sitaram Sawal had ordered both the building’s owner, Rajmi Narvekar, and Goa Bagayatdar to demolish all unauthorized extensions.
The case began over four years ago when Naik lodged a complaint about the illegal encroachment of open space and areas designated for parking.
Multiple inspections by the Mapusa municipality and the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) confirmed the presence of unauthorized constructions, including the mezzanine floor and illegal sheds.
Despite being given the opportunity to regularize the mezzanine floor through proper channels, the owner of the building failed to secure necessary approvals from the NGPDA. Instead, the complainant alleges, the owners manipulated the system to delay the proceedings. Following delays, Naik took the matter to the High Court through a writ petition. The court then directed the MMC to prioritize the case.
Despite these ongoing legal challenges, Goa Bagayatdar continued to operate its supermarket from the premises, which now faces potential closure if the illegal extensions are not removed. The MMC’s latest order emphasizes that no further delays will be tolerated and that the demolition must be completed within the given time frame.
