PANAJI
The State government on Thursday informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that several illegal constructions have misused the Public Health Act to obtain NOC for water and electricity connections.
While the Act was intended to ensure occupants are not denied basic amenities, it has been misused by owners of several commercial properties.
“Several illegal constructions have come up without obtaining the necessary NOC. The violators submit this NOC to the electricity and public works departments to obtain permissions. We suggest reconsidering the provision to prevent further blatant misuse of the Act,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam stated during a hearing into a suo motu PIL on illegal constructions across Goa.
The AG also stated that there are rules to crackdown on these constructions but the process is time consuming.
In October 2024, the High Court took suo motu cognizance of the rising issue of illegal constructions, observing that many of these structures were being erected along roadsides, in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, and within village panchayat and municipal limits.
The petition was prompted by a case in which a panchayat had failed to act against illegal constructions and execute demolition orders for over four to five years.
After a brief lull, the hearing resumed on Thursday, with arguments expected to conclude soon. The Court has scheduled the next hearing for Monday.
