THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: Construction of a coffee shop by the Margao Municipal Council in the garden situated opposite the Margao Civil and Criminal Court building, Old market has kicked up a row of sorts, with local residents questioning the construction activity in a Conservation zone.
In fact, residents of Old market have called upon the Margao Municipal Council to immediately stop the construction of the coffee shop and raze down the construction and restore the land to its original position within 15 days. The residents have told the CO to treat their complaint as Notice issued under Section 289 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.
In the representation, the residents led by Celestin Norohna, Roque Pinto and others maintained that the land (garden) in question does not belong to the Margao Municipal Council. That’s not all. They further pointed out that the property (garden) as per the ODP in enforce is designated as Conservation Zone, adding that any construction to be undertaken in conservation zone requires prior approval/ permission from the Conservation Committee of the TCP which the Office of the Chief Officer, Margao Municipal Council appears to have not obtained.
“The construction (coffee shop) work being undertaken in the garden appears to be patently illegal as the same is being executed without obtaining the necessary Development Permission, Sanctions and approval of plans from the SGPDA as mandatorily required under Section 44 of the Goa Town & Country Planning Act, 1974. The construction also appears to be undertaken without holding a valid Construction Licence and plans approved by the Margao Municipal Council as mandatory under Section 184 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1978”, the petition stated.
The petition added: “The construction is undertaken in conservation zone without approval/permission from the Conversation committee of the Town & Country Planning Department. It also appears that no Conversion Sanad for the development of the land is obtained as mandatory required under the Goa Daman and Diu Land Revenue Code, 1968 for Conversion of use of land and non agricultural Assessment under Rules, 1969 for undertaking any construction work”.
