the goan I network
PORVORIM
The Penha-da-Franca Panchayat on Thursday demolished an illegal structure built on an open space in ther village.
According to reports, Deputy Collector S Tripathi had issued an order for the demolition of the illegal structure by Sapna Gajinkar and Joint Mamlatdar Jayesh Salgaonkar, Block Development Officer Krishnakant Pangam and BDO Extension Officer Laxman Parsekar had visited Porvorim on Wednesday to demolish the illegal structure.
A police team was called to maintain law and order, while Penha-de-Franca Sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar and other panch members were also present at the site.
However, the demolition team is alleged to have interacted with the Gajinkar family, before returning without carrying out the demolition.
When this news reached the notice of Revenue Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, he got furious and took the panchayat members to task for failing to carry out the demolition as per the order of the deputy collector.
Sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar and panch member Shamsundar Kamat arrived at the site on Thursday morning along with a JCB machine and workforce.
The illegal structure was later demolished without a police force.
Later speaking to media persons, Sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar clarified that the joint mamlatdar and block development officer mentioned to them that the deputy collector’s order did not mention specifically demolition of compound wall and hence, it was not advisable to carry out the demolition.
“We were told that in case the illegal structure was demolished, we may face litigation. In view of this, the demolition was not carried out on Wednesday,” said Chodankar.
“There are many halls such as Ghatgemaharaj, Shastratej Sankul, Azad Bhavan by the side of this open space in Porvorim. Many functions take place in these halls regularly and cars are parked on the road. Hence, the panchayat proposes to use this space for parking of vehicles,” said Chodankar.
