AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
A spate of illegal constructions in Colvale has caught local authorities by surprise, as those involved have been building residential houses without mandatory licences in the village.
The illegal constructions have been taking place in a private land in the village.
At least 22 pucca constructions have already come up at Mushir-vaddo, Colvale, without the mandatory conversion sanad, Town and Country Planning licences or panchayat NOC. Many others have either laid the foundation or the structures have already reached half way.
An area of 41,000 sq mt in the village has been converted into plots and mainly sold to migrants, sources said. Out of 144 occupants, 131 owners are migrants.
Sources said the construction activity in the area has been mainly carried out in the cover of darkness to avoid the attention of the authorities.
Deputy Collector, Gaurish Sankwalkar informed that his office has not received any official complaint against the illegal constructions but the local talathi has reported the matter to the higher ups. “I have asked the talathi to file a checklist in the matter and within next two days I will issue a stop work order,” said Sankwalkar.
Meanwhile, Mamlatdar Kumar Abhishek (IAS) has directed the Mapusa Police to keep a strict vigil on the site during the night and stop any illegal activities at the site.
“The talathi has been visiting the site daily but no activity is reported at the site during the day. The talathi has received phone calls at night about ongoing construction activity during the nights. You are directed to keep a strict vigil on the site at nights,” Abhishek said in his communiqué to the Mapusa PI.
The needle of suspicion dangles on the local panchayat. Sources said illegal activities cannot take place without the knowledge of the local panchayat members. Incidentally, the panchayat owes allegiance to former BJP MLA, Kiran Kandolkar.
Repeated attempts to contact Colvale Sarpanch, Dashrat Bicholkar remained unsuccessful.
It may be recalled that Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar had raised the issue of illegal constructions in the village on the floor of the House but there was no action taken on the illegal activity.
“I had raised the issue in the assembly last time but nothing happened,” Halarnkar told The Goan.
