MAPUSA
The Mapusa municipality has issued a show-cause notice “ the second one by the civic body and a series of notices issued by other departments “ to the Goa Bagayatdar’s branch in Mapusa for running its supermarket illegally and in blatant violation of rules.
The Goa Bagayatdar Bazar has set up its supermarket in Mapusa by indulging in illegal construction contrary to the rules of the Municipal Act and despite being issued show-cause notices and even suspending its trade licence nearly two years ago, the business activity continues uninterrupted till today.
After receiving multiple complaints from Ms Siddhi Naik, the Mapusa civic body conducted three site inspections and listed all the illegalities by way of encroachments.
Similarly, the North Goa Planning Development Authority (NGPDA) also conducted a site inspection and reported total encroachments carried out by the Goa Bagayatdar.
The civic officials in their inspection reports found that a mezzanine floor has been illegally erected for the entire ground floor and an illegal shed has been erected in the front side setback.
The report also found that an illegal shed has been erected in the rear side setback.
In April 2020, the MMC refused to renew the trade licence to the Goa Bagayatdar as it was conducting commercial activity outside the area for which the licence was approved.
For nearly two years, Goa Bagayatdar has been operating illegally in the building without a trade licence.
In a notice issued to Goa Bagayatdar on January 12, 2022, Chief Officer of Mapusa Municipal Council, Sitaram Sawal has directed it to show cause within 15 days why action should not be taken to shut down/stop the illegal occupation of the premises by the Bazar.
The notice said that Goa Bagayatdar was running the departmental store beyond the areas allotted to it by encroaching the parking area of the said building.
“The said activity is in violation of the provision of Section 265 of Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 and Trade & Occupation Licensing Bye-laws 1989,” Sawal said.
Incidentally, former MMC chief officer Kabir Shirgaonkar had issued a similar show-cause notice to the Goa Bagayatdar in July 2020, but soon afterwards Shirgaonkar was transferred.
The show-cause notice was then allowed to lapse even as the show went on for Goa Bagayatdar without interruption until this fresh notice.
