OLD GOA
The Se Old Goa panchayat authorities on Thursday conducted a site inspection of the controversial structure which has come up within heritage precincts of the UNESCO monument, the St Cajetan Church.
At the inspection, Panchayat Secretary Ashish Naik along with the panchayat staff conducted a panchanama, wherein measurements of the built-up area of the structure were taken and recorded.
Sarpanch Janita Madkaikar, local panch and complainant Vishal Volvoikar, panch Vishwas Kuttikar, and others were present.
Also present were AAP leader Amit Palekar, TMC leaders Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Samil Volvoikar, Congress leader Maria Varella, activist Mariano Ferrao among others.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, panch Vishwas Kuttikar said the panchayat will convene an immediate meeting within 4-5 days and then issue notice to the owner asking why the structure should not be demolished.
“Today, we have conducted an inspection of the structure, which is illegal as licenses to the same have been revoked. The next step is to issue notice to the owner asking why the structure should not be demolished, and that we will do after holding an urgent panchayat meeting in the next 4-5 days,” Kuttikar added.
“Actually, the owner had requested for postponing the inspection citing Covid, but we had told him that we are going ahead with the inspection and to send his representative, who is present today,” Kuttikar said.
AAP says panchayat on track, TMC wants speedy demolition
OLD GOA:
Stating that the Old Goa panchayat is on the right track, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amit Palekar said the panchayat is following the due legal process as mandated under the Panchayati Raj Act.
“The legal process is absolutely on and the Panchayati Raj Act requires the procedure to be followed. The panchayat is on track, which is a good sign,” Palekar stated and informed that he would follow up with the issue.
On the legality of the structure, Palekar said, “It is absolutely illegal. I am amazed that the government allowed such construction to come up in the heritage zone. It has to be demolished.”
Palekar further questioned how the licenses were issued to the structure in the first place.
“The government should fix responsibility and act on all authorities who were involved in fraudulently granting licenses to the structure,” he further demanded.
TMC leader Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, however, called for speedy demolition of the structure.
“There is no need to waste time in conducting inspection and issuing notices. The panchayat, having called the structure illegal, should go one step ahead and demolish the same,” Lourenco said.
“We have seen lot of demolition taking place, which is politically motivated, but here it is not happening that way,” Lourenco stated.
“We are here to tell the panchayat authorities that we support them and will stand by them come what may. And we want the panchayat to demolish the structure at the earliest,” he added.
Replying to a question on the lack of support from the government to the panchayat on the issue, Lourenco said, “How one can expect support from the government when they are responsible for promoting the structure.”
