MARGAO
A group of villagers from Betalbatim have knocked the doors of the village talathi to initiate action against what they claimed as an alleged illegal construction in a paddy field as per the recent High Court directions in the suo moto public interest litigation on illegal constructions.
Based on a complaint lodged by a group of villagers, the village talathi along with officials of the deputy Collector, Margao inspected the construction work on Friday. The complainants, however, are waiting for the talathi to initiate proceedings to stop constructions in paddy fields and get them demolished.
In the complaint, the villagers drew attention of the talathi to the suo moto cognisance taken by the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court to the illegal constructions and the directions issued to various authorities, besides the talathis to tackle the problem under time bound manner.
Convenor of Betalbatim Civic and Consumer Forum, Xavier Cotta told the media that Betalbatim has become a hot spot for outsiders to own a house in the village, with a villa and row house advertised for sale for as high as Rs 4.5 crore. “These outsiders put locals as front people to indulge in illegalities and later sell them to outsiders,” he said.
Another villager Hillary Cotta feared that constructions may soon convert the fields if the authorities turn a blind eye to illegalities.
President of Betalbatim Farmers Club, Joe Cotta said he had verbally intimated the construction to the Betalbatim panchayat, but there was some delay in issuing the stop work order.
Another resident Menino Cotta wondered why the authorities are slow in implementing the High Court directions on illegal constructions. “Hope the talathi and other authorities initiate action against the construction,” he added.
