MARGAO
Has the April 6 High Court on illegal structures on roadsides along state and national highways changed the ground reality in the state?
A little over two months since the High Court had in the suo moto PIL issued a host of directions to various agencies and had laid guidelines how to go about removal of the illegalities, the local bodies and the Public Works Department, Roads are engaged in pushing the buck at least in down South.
Many of the panchayats in Salcete are believed to have knocked the doors of the PWD, Roads for assistance, including technical help to conduct survey of the roadside constructions. For, the panchayats have pointed out that though the roadside structures are standing in their respective jurisdiction, the PWD, Roads is the owner of the land in question and hence should also play its due role in identifying the structures.
In fact, both legal and ownership issues have come to the fore in the wake of the High Court order on illegal structures. Sources say the High Court has ordered the local bodies, both Municipalities and Panchayats to conduct the survey, compile the list and send the list to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for action. A village Sarpanch pointed out the High Court had not issued any directions to the PWD, Roads, which is the actual owner of the land in question playing host to the illegal structures, including commercial establishments. “Our panchayat has written a letter to senior officials of the PWD, Roads to help in conducting the survey and to identify the illegal structures since these establishments are located on the property belonging to the PWD”, the Sarpanch added.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz was blunt in saying the PWD, Roads should play its role in identifying the roadside structures since the property in question belongs to the PWD.
Another Sarpanch maintained that politicians must have turned a blind eye to the roadside structures over the years to allow the locals to eke a living. “The PWD cannot skip its responsibility to secure its land acquired in the past for the construction of roads”, the Sarpanch added.
