To study the order of DMA on staying the ongoing drive
MAPUSA
Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday said that the council will hold on for two days and will resume the anti-encroachment drive with renewed vigour after taking legal opinion over the order on stay granted by the Director of Municipal Administration.
“We are yet to receive the order of the DMA who has purportedly granted a stay against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive. Once we get the order we will discuss it with our legal heads and accordingly decide on the next course of action. But we want to continue with the drive to clear all the footpaths from encroachments,” Mishal said.
“Most of the people in Mapusa have appreciated the drive and are very happy with the council’s decision to clear the encroachments. The entire council is strongly backing the drive. We will start the drive sooner than later and it will be with new energy,” she added.
Backing her was MMC Vice-Chairperson Viraj Phadke who has acknowledged that the anti-encroachment drive has a large fan following in Mapusa.
“Even if the DMA has stayed the anti-encroachment drive then his order cannot supersede the order of the High Court against encroachments of footpaths and open spaces,” Phadke said.
He admitted that panchanama or inventory has to be carried out when material is confiscated from within the premises of the shopkeepers and stall owners.
“We don’t have to do panchanama about material stored on footpaths. It’s an illegal act and we can confiscate the material in anyway,” he said.
The DMA had stayed the ongoing anti-encroachment drive of the Mapusa civic body for not following proper procedure.
The DMA had directed the Chief Officer to refrain from seizing any goods or articles from shop or stall owners until a final decision was taken in the matter.
The MMC had started its anti-encroachment drive on Wednesday last week seizing goods and items on footpaths and road widening areas. The drive had brought much cheer to the common men which was hoping that it would bring much discipline in the market.
