MAPUSA
While verifying claims of Costal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) violation in coastal Siolim, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) stumbled on a government land grabbing trickery and has issued directions to the North Goa Collector to reclaim the government land to its original position.
The authority has also imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh per structure on the persons involved in illegal construction activities near the Uddo beach in Siolim.
The land grabbing fraud came to light after some alert villagers complained to the GCZMA that some locals were involved in illegal construction on the banks of River Chapora in Survey 119 situated at Uddo-Siolim in violation of the CRZ rules.
The GCZMA after an inspection of the site had observed that a huge construction comprising 20 rooms was being undertaken in the No Development Zone area in total violation of the CRZ notification 2011.
On October 7, the GCZMA issued a stop-work order to Mayur Toraskar and Sushil Kumar, who are linked to the alleged illegal construction.
In the same order, the coastal authority had also directed the Siolim-Marna panchayat not to assess the offending structure for tax and further not to issue any NOC for the purpose of electricity and water connection to the construction.
Surprisingly, despite the GCZMA order, the village panchayat of Siolim-Marna in its monthly meeting on October 29 went ahead and issued an NOC for electrical connection to the structure.
The electricity department has also been working overtime in laying an underground electrical armoured cable to supply power to the construction.
When the locals opposed the laying of the cable, Anjuna Police intervened and provided police protection to the department to lay the cable to felicitate power connection to the alleged illegal construction in the government land.
A local, Alex Pereira, who is the main complainant along with others informed that the Uddo beach and the surrounding area belongs to the government but some locals were trying to gain control and were carrying out illegal construction in the area.
“The beach is famous for its peaceful environment and sunset viewing. This beach and the river are also famous for shell collection and the fishing business. But some locals out of greed have laid siege on the entire beach,” Pereira said.
He further said that the access to the beach has been blocked due to the illegal constructions.
The GCZMA said that after a detailed inquiry it has been noted that the property bearing Survey no 119/1 and 119 of Siolim stands recorded in the name of Government of Goa in the Form I and XIV.
“The authority decided to issue directions to Collector, North Goa to reclaim the government land to its original position at the earliest. It is also decided to impose a penalty of Rs 5 lakh per structure. Penal action under EP Act 1986 will also be initiated after identification of the encroachers,” said Dasharat Redkar, Member Secretary of GCZMA.
Incidentally, coming under intense pressure, the Siolim-Marna panchayat has now called for inspection of the alleged illegal construction on December 7.
