The alleged illegal construction on comunidade land in Mapusa under scrutiny.
MAPUSA
The burgeoning issue of illegal constructions in Mapusa town has taken a significant turn with a former chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), Subhash Narvekar, now at the center of a major controversy.
Allegations have surfaced that Narvekar, a seasoned ex-councilor, has been involved in constructing an unauthorized structure near his residence on land belonging to the Comunidade of Mapusa.
The complaint, filed by Siddhi Naik, highlights a series of legal oversights, accusing Narvekar of bypassing essential approvals from the MMC and the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA).
According to Naik, the construction commenced without a valid construction license, necessary approvals, or a conversion sanad under the Goa Land Revenue Code.
This serious breach of law has prompted Naik to demand the immediate demolition of the unauthorized structure.
Site inspections and findings
In response to these allegations, the Mapusa Comunidade swiftly conducted a site inspection, revealing several irregularities in the ongoing construction.
A senior member of the managing committee, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed the lack of required licenses and approvals, leading to the submission of a detailed report to the Administrator of Comunidade, the NGPDA, and the Mapusa municipality.
“We inspected the site, and our findings clearly indicate that the construction is illegal. The administrator is now responsible for initiating action, which could include deploying a task force or demolition squad to address the violation,” the committee member stated.
The Mapusa Municipal Council also carried out its inspection of the site. However, despite the evident violations, the council has yet to issue a stop work notice, raising concerns about the consistency and urgency of its enforcement actions.
This delay mirrors a previous incident, where the council hesitated for over a month before taking action against another illegal construction linked to a local politician.
Only after significant public and media pressure did the council eventually issue a stop work notice.
Lack of prompt action, a concern
Complainant, Siddhi Naik expressed frustration over the authorities’ lack of prompt action, accusing them of “dilly-dallying” by repeatedly postponing hearings, allowing the construction to continue unabated.
“If the very people entrusted with upholding the law are the ones violating it, what hope does the common citizen have? The law should be equal for everyone, but it seems that influential individuals are given undue leniency,” Naik remarked.
Adding to the controversy, Naik has filed a separate complaint against Narvekar, alleging that his original house was also constructed on Comunidade land without adhering to legal requirements.
This issue has reportedly been languishing with the Administrator of Comunidade for nearly a year without resolution.
When approached for comment, Narvekar initially refrained from discussing the matter but later dismissed the accusations as baseless.
“It’s a false complaint. I don’t want to say anything about it,” he stated briefly.
The situation underscores a growing concern in Mapusa: while ordinary citizens face strict enforcement of construction laws, influential individuals seem to enjoy a different set of rules.
This disparity in legal enforcement has sparked outrage among residents, who call for equal treatment under the law and immediate action against all illegal constructions, regardless of the violator’s status.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are on the authorities to see whether they will uphold the law impartially or continue to allow such discrepancies to persist in Mapusa’s rapidly developing landscape.
