MAPUSA
After conducting a detailed inquiry, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed the deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate of Bardez to seal the illegal construction on government land bang on the Uddo beach in Siolim.
The coastal authority also directed the deputy collector to collect a penalty amount of Rs 5 lakh from the proprietor of the structure.
“Seal the structures in property standing in the name of Mayur Toraskar/Sushil Kumar located in property bearing survey no 119/1 in Siolim within 48 hours and collect a penalty amount of Rs 5 lakh and deposit it in GCZMA account,” said Dashrath Redkar, Member Secretary of GCZMA in his direction to the deputy collector.
The member secretary informed that the Additional Collector-1 North Goa had submitted a list of encroachments in government land in survey no 119/1 at Uddo beach in Siolim and further Mayur Toraskar/Sushil Kumar had constructed a commercial establishment on the said land.
“The Authority is of the opinion that major environmental damage is being caused in the property and to avoid further damage the property needs to be sealed,” Redkar opined.
The Goan had first broken the story on the illegal constructions coming up bang on the banks of Chapora River at Uddo in Siolim.
The GCZMA while verifying claims of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) violation in coastal Siolim found that some locals were involved in grabbing government land and issued directions to the North Goa Collector to reclaim the government land to its original position.
The land grabbing fraud came to light after the main complainant, Alex Pereira, and some alert villagers complained to the GCZMA that some locals were involved in illegal construction on the banks of River Chapora.
The GCZMA after an inspection of the site had observed that a huge construction comprising of 20 rooms was being undertaken in the No Development Zone area in total violation of the CRZ notification 2011.
The GCZMA later on October 7 last year issued a stop work order to the owners of the alleged illegal construction “ Mayur Toraskar and Sushil Kumar.
After initially dilly-dallying, the Siolim-Marna panchayat finally conducted the inspection of the construction on February 21 this year and found that it was illegal.
“The owner of the house Mayur Toraskar does not possess any valid permission issued by the panchayat to erect the structure. He has also not complied with any of the formalities prescribed under the building regulations and the CRZ in force,” said Monali Pednekar, Sarpanch of Siolim-Marna in the inspection report.
