OLD GOA
Good news was in store for the satyagrahis agitating against the structure in heritage precincts of St Cajetan church, as the Se Old Goa panchayat resolved to revoke the construction and subsequent renewal licences issued to the controversial structure.
The decision was taken at the fortnightly meeting of the panchayat on Thursday, in which all seven panchas present when the resolution was adopted voted in favour of revoking the licences.
Later, speaking to reporters, Sarpanch Janita Madkaikar said the panchayat has resolved to revoke the construction and subsequent renewal licences issued to the controversial structure.
“Now, we are going to issue an order to this effect and serve the same to the respondents. After that, a panchanama would be conducted by the panchayat,” Madkaikar stated.
Explaining further, panch Vishwas Kuttikar said as the panchayat is not satisfied with the reply to the show-cause notice, the decision to revoke the licences was taken.
“Now since the licences have been revoked, the structure becomes illegal,” Kuttikar added.
When asked to explain the basis on which the licences were revoked, Kuttikar said firstly the TCP has revoked the technical clearance.
“Secondly under CRZ licence, the structure cannot be transferred to a third party, which has happened in this case. Thirdly, the ASI has given licence only for repairs and not reconstruction, as has happened in this case,” he pointed out.
On the next course of action, Kuttikar said the revocation order will be served to the respondents, after which inspection and panchanama will be done.
“With this, the process of demolition has started,” he opined.
When questioned what would be course of action if the revocation is challenged in the court, Kuttikar said the panchayat is prepared to fight the legal battle even if it means approaching the SC.
Kuttikar also admitted that the earlier panchayat should have checked the documents before granting licences.
“The panchayat was at fault for not scrutinising the documents properly,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, Kuttikar also informed that the panchayat would convene a special gram sabha to demarcate the buffer zones of the heritage sites on the Regional Plan so that such violations do not happen in the future.
He also informed that the panchayat has rejected the file for setting up of temporary structure for exhibitions and also kept on hold another file asking for house number to a structure in heritage area.
SIGNATURES FORGED: In a fresh twist to the Old Goa structure issue, the original owners of the property have filed complaints with the Old Goa police and Se Old Goa panchayat, stating their signatures have been forged while applying for licences to the structure.
The owners, Jose Maria de Gouveia Pinto and Maria Lizette D’Abreu de Gouveia Pinto, said the signatures on the applications for repair/reconstruction of existing house and renewal of construction license are not theirs.
Further, they stated that forgery has been committed by unknown persons and have asked authorities to register FIR and prosecute the accused.
