the goan I network
VASCO
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday said there could be amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act in the near future, empowering the Block Development Officer (BDO) to be the nodal officer in tackling illegal construction of houses across the State.
Godinho was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a joint inspection of Bogmalo football ground.
“Today, there is a lot of illegal constructions. I have got my director so that he can see the ground reality and how people encroach land,” said Godinho.
“There is only one deputy collector in the south. There are cases sometimes where a house number is obtained even without construction. There is no demolition and people don’t have fear.”
“We are in process of amending some laws in Panchayat Act, wherein BDO will be nodal officer in the respective block and he along with secretary of every panchayat will ensure there are no illegal constructions,” said Godinho.
Insisting it should be a norm not to encourage further illegalities, Godinho added: “Whatever is there till date may not be demolished per se, but whole of Goa cannot be permitted to further become illegal.”
