MARGAO
Has Health Minister Vishwajit Rane got to say anything as demolition proposed by the Health department against illegal structures on prime Hospicio property at Monte Hill, Pajifond is awaiting disposal by the Margao Municipal Council, coming under the ambit of the Urban Development Ministry, also headed by him.
Otherwise, consider this. Exactly a month ago on November 20, 2023, deputy Health Director and South Goa district hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar dashed off a letter to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer, drawing the attention of the civic body to the illegal huts taking shape on prime Hospicio property at Monte Hill, Pajifond.
In fact, Dr Borkar, in his letter pointed out that the illegal structures erected in the Hospicio property bearing PT Sheet No. 191 Chalta No 75, near Junta Quarters, Monte Hill, Margao, which were demolished on February 24, 2022 by the demolition Squad, Margao have been reconstructed.
In this respect, the Hospicio Medical Superintendent sought the help and support of the Margao Municipal Chief Officer to conduct the necessary panchanama and also demolish the illegal structures on the property by following codal formalities as per the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.
It’s exactly a month on Wednesday that Dr Rajendra Borkar had knocked the doors of the Margao Municipal Council to rid the prime Health department’s property of the illegal structures and encroachments.
When The Goan visited the Margao Municipality to ascertain the stand of the civic body to the Health department’s request to demolish the illegal structures from the Hospicio land, Chief Officer Gaurish Sankwalkar was conspicuous by his absence since he has proceeded on two-week medical leave.
A technical official, however, informed that the Margao Municipality cannot just raze down the structures in the Hospicio hospital property land unless an inspection is carried out with the participation of the health officials. “How will we know which structures are illegal and the structures that have come up legally. We have written to the District hospital officials that an inspection needs to be first carried out to find out the illegal structures”, the official said.
The MMC official further wondered why the District hospital Medical Superintendent has not knocked the doors of the South Goa demolition squad to initiate action against the shanties and structures at Monte Hill if they are illegal in nature.
Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Rajendra Borkar, however, has pointed out that the Margao Municipality ought to have got back to the district hospital to join in the inspection proposed by the civic body. “I have no idea whether any inspection has been called by the Margao Municipality. I will check with my office staff”, Dr Borkar added.
