PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted time till June 12 for local bodies to act against illegal and irregular structures across the State, after the State government on Wednesday informed the court that it is currently reviewing the issue.
During the hearing into rampant unauthorised constructions, Advocate General Devidas Pangam, appearing for the State, told the court they are reviewing the whole thing and accordingly action will be taken and submitted to the Court.
The court was hearing suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) relating to illegal structures, especially in no-development zones and paddy fields. In its recent observation, the Bench noted that encroachments drastically altered Goa’s fragile landscape while criticising authorities for inaction.
On Wednesday, the Bench granted permission for the review and adjourned the hearing to June 13. Municipalities and panchayats had also sought more time to comply with court directives, following which the Bench extended the deadline for compliance to June 12.
In a meeting held earlier this month, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reiterated acting against illegal constructions including encroachments on roads in compliance with the High Court’s directives in March. Sawant chaired a high-level meeting at Porvorim where both district Collectorates were instructed to initiate action.
The State government is also examining the possibility of introducing an ordinance or legislation to regulate or regularise certain irregular structures, though Pangam confirmed that this proposal was not discussed in the Court on Wednesday.
On March 12, the High Court pulled up the government for its failure to control widespread illegalities. “This has resulted in a wholesale change of the landscape in the State of Goa by such wide and rampant illegal constructions without any authority of law,” the bench had remarked. The court also directed the State to “curtail, stop and remove such unauthorised constructions in terms and in accordance with the statutory provisions.”
