MAPUSA
The Siolim-Marna panchayat had to finally admit that the new construction on government land and bang on the banks of River Chapora at Uddo in Siolim is illegal.
The panchayat after being forced to carry out an inspection of the structure has stated that the construction is illegal as the owner failed to obtain any permission from the authorities.
“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.
Interestingly, the panchayat had earlier in November last year had declared the construction legal and even issued an NOC to the owner to obtain electrical connection.
The panchayat initially dilly-dallied on the issue but finally had to yield and hold the inspection as the complainant stuck to his guns and wrote to all the authorities against the alleged illegal construction on the government land.
According to the panchanama report prepared by the panchayat, the illegal construction has been constructed with cement, sand and laterite stones and estimated to have cost more than Rs 1 crore.
It may be recalled the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had in October last year passed an order stating that the construction comprising of 20 rooms was undertaken in government land in No Development Zone area in total violation of the CRZ notification 2011.
The coastal authority had also issued directions to the North Goa Collector to reclaim the government land to its original position.
The GCZMA had further issued a stop work order to the owners of the alleged illegal construction.
In the same order the coastal authority had also directed the Siolim-Marna panchayat not to assess the offending structure for tax and further not to issue any NOC for the purpose of electricity and water connection to the construction.
But the panchayat ignored the GCZMA order and went ahead to declare the construction legal and issued NOC for electrical connection to the owner in November last year.
Incidentally, acting on a complaint on the same issue, the Deputy Collector of Bardez has directed the mamlatdar to conduct an inspection and submit a report on the violation of CRZ regulations and obstruction of the public beach at Uddo in Siolim.
