the goan I network
MAPUSA
After Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) failed to take action against a construction, an exasperated Mapusa resident filed a writ petition in the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking direction to MMC to immediately stop the construction and further demolish the structure.
In his petition before the court, a senior citizen, Francis Maria said that he was forced to file the writ as he failed to get justice from the authorities.
“Despite several complaints, MMC has failed to exercise its authority and stop the construction work carried out by one Salim Sainha, without maintaining the mandatory 3-metre road setback,” Maria said.
Further, the petitioner brought to the attention of the court that Sainha had failed to obtain mandatory licences and NOCs from the MMC and other state authorities.
He said the complaint against the construction was made on April 23 to the chief officer. After several written and oral appeals, the civic authority conducted a survey of the site but failed to stop the construction.
“Since MMC failed to take action we wrote to the director of municipal administration but received no response even as the construction work was going on in full swing,” Maria said.
“With authorities turning a blind to the illegality and having exhausted all other avenues, a writ petition was the only way out for me,” he said.
Admitting the petition, the HC has served notices to Mapusa Municipal Council and Salim Sainha.
The petitioner in his plea has asked the HC to grant a writ of Mandamus directing MMC to immediately stop the construction and further take immediate measures to demolish the structure erected so far.
He further asked the court to direct the civic body to take immediate steps to ensure that occupants of the houses existing on the western side of the road maintain proper road setback by demolishing the structures.
“I do not want to let MMC off the hook in discharging its responsibility and therefore do not seek a direct order for demolishing of the structure,” the petitioner said hitting another nail in the MMC’s coffin.
It may be recalled The Goan on May 4 had first reported how Salim Sainha, a former employer of MMC, was trying to use his good offices to carry out the construction at Gateshwar Nagar, Khorlim in Mapusa.
