MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council razed down the construction meant for the controversial coffee shop in the garden located in the city’s conservation zone opposite the Margao Civil and Criminal Court building at Old market.
The demolition of the under construction structure by the Margao Municipality assumes significance and comes against the complaint lodged by the residents of Old Market, claiming that the coffee shop is being constructed inside the garden in violation of the rules governing conservation zone.
The demolition assumes further significance given that the garden beautification along with the coffee shop was being proposed and executed by the Margao Municipal Council under the development works.
A senior MMC technical official told The Goan that the structure inside the garden was being razed down after local residents claimed the structure was being executed without any valid permissions and approvals from the South Goa planning and Development Authority. “We have checked the file and it has been found that there are no approvals for the construction,” an official said.
Local residents had lodged a written complaint with the Margao Municipal Council last year, questioning the construction activity in a conservation zone.
The residents led by Celestin Noronha, Roque Pinto and others, in their petition had set 15 days deadline on the Margao Municipal Council to raze down the structure, claiming the land (garden) in question does not belong to the Margao Municipal Council.
The citizens had asserted that the property (garden) as per the ODP in enforce is designated as conservation zone, adding that any construction to be undertaken in conservation zone requires prior approval/ permission from the Conservation Committee of the TCP which the Office of the Chief Officer, Margao Municipal Council appears to have not obtained.
“The construction (coffee shop) work being undertaken in the garden appears to be patently illegal as the same is being executed without obtaining the necessary development permission, sanctions and approval of plans from the SGPDA as mandatorily required under Section 44 of the Goa Town & Country Planning Act, 1974. The construction also appears to be undertaken without holding a valid construction licence and plans approved by the Margao Municipal Council as mandatory under Section 184 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1978,” the petition stated.
