MARGAO
More than a fortnight after the Margao flying squad flagged alleged illegal land-filling activity at Talvorda in Cuncolim, authorities have finally forwarded the stop-work order to the Cuncolim Police Station to trace the offender and initiate action.
The development comes after a procedural lapse surfaced in the handling of the case. Although the flying squad had reported the land-filling activity in Talvorda, the office of the Deputy Collector, Margao, had initially marked a copy of the stop-work order to the Maina-Curtorim Police Station for implementation. However, the Talvorda area falls under the jurisdiction of the Cuncolim Police Station.
The apparent mix-up raised questions and prompted the complainant to write to South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus, seeking her intervention in the matter.
On Tuesday, the office of the Deputy Collector issued a fresh stop-work order directing the Police Inspector of Cuncolim Police Station to visit the site and immediately halt the alleged illegal land-filling activity.
The order was issued based on a report submitted by the Flying Squad, which stated that land filling was being carried out at Talvorda, Cuncolim, without displaying the mandatory notice board indicating permission from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, as required under law.
According to the report, no documents or permissions were made available at the site during inspection, prima facie attracting the provisions of Section 17(A) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974.
“The Police Inspector of Cuncolim Police Station is hereby directed to visit the site at Talvorda, Cuncolim, and stop the illegal land filling immediately,” the order stated.
The order further directed the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer-II, Salcete, to monitor the site and ensure that no further illegal land filling or hill cutting takes place. The official has also been instructed to initiate action, wherever necessary, under Section 33 of the Goa Land Revenue Code for illegal conversion of land and submit a compliance report.
