NGPDA halts construction of fencing on Calangute beach
MLA Lobo accuses panchayat for permissions to non-Goans to build huge structures
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Chairman of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Thursday conducted an inspection and stopped construction of a compound wall on the beach at Gaura-vaddo, Calangute.
“After inspection, one Bhupinder K Sandhu has been asked to stop construction of fencing in Survey No 129/3 at Gauravaddo, Calangute,” said R K Pandita, member secretary of NGPDA.
Lobo censured the non-Goan owner for encroaching on government land and later threatening local fishermen in the area.
The Calangute MLA informed that most super rich people from other states have bought land on the beach side and have encroached on government land.
He said residents either from Delhi, Pune or Mumbai have bought vast properties along the beach side in Calangute and have got permissions by arm twisting local authorities.
The Calangute MLA also accused the local panchayat of issuing permissions to these non-Goans to build huge bungalows ignoring all laws of the land.
“These non-Goans have built structures in Non Development Zone very close to the beach. Besides they have encroached on tourism land while fencing their properties,” he said.
He said besides indulging in illegalities, these non-Goans have started issuing threats of taking legal action against local fishermen.
He further alleged that the non-Goans hired bouncers to threaten the fishermen.
“Our local fishermen have been earning a livelihood by venturing into the sea for fish for the last four decades,” he said.
Lobo informed that CRZ notification of 1991 and 2011 was amended to protect the rights of fishermen.
“These fishermen existed here before the CRZ rules came into play. They cannot be just ejected from the place,” he said.
A local, Joao alias Maso Lobo blamed the local panchayat for issuing licenses to non-Goans who are now trying to subjugate the locals.
BOX
MLA responsible for illegalities: Sequeira
MAPUSA: Reversing the gun against the local MLA Michael Lobo, Calangute Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira sought to remind that all illegalities on the beach side were carried out by Lobo when he was the Zilla Panchayat member.
“Most of the illegal structures along the beach side have been built by the current MLA, when he was ZP member. One must not forget that he is a builder and he used to also manage documents to carry his plans forward,” Sequeira alleged.
He informed that when around 840 houses in Calangute were declared illegal in 1996, all these houses were regularized by the High Court after Calangute Panchayat submitted required documents to court.
“People know who were the brokers in Calangute and who brought the Delhiites in our constituency,” he said.
