Post HC directive, authorities face heat for inaction on illegal roadside constructions
Despite issuing notices, PWD fails to act; MMC ignores plaints, allows upgrades; roadside gaddas near Comba rail crossing persist due to political backing, lack of enforcement
THE GOAN NETWORK
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File photo of the gaddas at the Comba railway crossing.
MARGAO As the stage is set for the implementation of the High Court directions against illegal constructions, the very authorities who had turned a blind eye to the illegalities all these years are under the lens of citizens.
Blame it on political interference, vested interests or otherwise, authorities were found abdicating their responsibilities in upholding the rule of law and supporting the illegalities.
A case in point is the gaddas located in road widening area near the Comba railway crossing at Margao. That the business activity at the gaddas hampered the smooth movement of traffic, more so when the railway crossing is closed for traffic, had failed to spur the PWD and the Margao Municipal Council officials to intervene and get the structures removed.
On the contrary, both the Margao Municipal Council and PWD officials had presided over the illegalities right under their nose for reasons best known to them.
Otherwise consider this. The PWD, Roads Division had pasted notices on around 40-odd gaddas across Salcete and Mormugao division, two years ago for removal since they had come in the road widening areas.
Amongst these gaddas issued notices by the PWD were the 3-4 gaddas located right adjacent the Comba railway crossing. The gaddas were given just seven-day time to vacate the land or face action. Two years have elapsed since the PWD had initiated the process, but the gaddas are still standing tall near the crossing, with PWD officials developing cold feet to clear the structures and rid the area of traffic snarls.
The Margao Municipal Council was also caught napping when the civic body ought to have acted on a host of complaints against the gaddas all these years. Instead, senior MMC officials literally presided over the illegality when the gadda owners replaced the wooden poles with fabricated structures for reasons best known to them.
Officials in private admitted there may be several roadside structures standing tall in road widening areas along major roads, State highways and national highways, but survived and thrived due to the patronage extended by the political class.
South Collector orders special drive to clear encroachments along roadside
MARGAO: South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus has directed the concerned Deputy Collectors/ Mamlatdar/ Flying Squad to immediately initiate a special drive and carry out inspections at all road widening areas/ National Highway/ State Highways in their respective jurisdictions. Further, if any violations are noticed, they shall take immediate action in restoration of the land including removing of illegal structures, if any, and also necessary action against violators as per law by April 4 2025 and submit compliance report to the Deputy Collector-South I.
They have been further directed to keep strict vigil through their officers/ officials as and when illegal activities/ violations are noticed and submit weekly report by every Friday.
The Collector has warned that strict action is initiated as per the above directions, failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against the erring officials.
What the High Court order says on illegal construction on
roadside/ highway/ major roads in Municipal areas and CCP area
- All the Municipalities and the CCP are hereby directed to conduct inspections of all the roadways/highways/major roads within their jurisdictions and make a report of any illegal construction that may have taken place on the edge/ road widening area abutting such roadways/highways/major roads
- The said report shall be filed in this Court within a period of four weeks from today. A copy of the reports shall be furnished to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (“GSPCB”)
- Upon preparation of such reports, the Chief Officer/Commissioner shall take immediate action against such illegal constructions by following the directions of the Supreme Court in the case of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation v. Nawab Khan Gulab Khan and Ors. (Supra)
- Notices shall be issued to the violators to demolish the illegal structure within 15 days from the receipt of the notice, failing which the Officer/Commissioner shall cause to remove such illegal structure within 15 days thereafter
- In appropriate cases Chief Officer/Commissioner shall seal commercial structures, where there is no construction license granted by the Municipality/CCP or where no Technical Clearance is granted under the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010
Upon receipt of reports from the municipalities/CCP, GSPCB shall inspect, prepare report and stop/seal/close such illegal commercial structure on the edge/ road-widening area abutting the roadways/highways/major roads
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