Stop-work notice to Cuncolim plant over 'illegal' construction

MARGAO
Even before the legal battle between the Cuncolim Municipal Council and Ms Goa Impex Marine Pvt Ltd could start in the High Court over the rejection of the construction licence to set up the fish meal plant, the two parties were locked in a battle over the ongoing work at the site.
Cuncolim Municipal Chief Officer Rajesh Sakhalkar on Wednesday issued a notice, directing the company to stop the work immediately. The company was further directed to show cause with documentary evidence, if any, within 15 days as to why action to demolish the said structure under Section 184 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, shall not be initiated against the party.
The company representative has been further directed to appear before the Chief Officer on October 8 to present their say in person or through an authorised pleader, failing which the matter will be heard and decided in their absence.
The CMC Chief Officer’s action comes following a complaint lodged by a resident of Cuncolim, Crisostomo Mariano Soares, complaining of an alleged illegal construction of a compound wall by the company.
A site inspection carried out by the CMC officials on September 22 allegedly revealed that the company was carrying out illegal construction of a compound wall with vertical laterite masonry support and with concrete blocks and had constructed a room with laterite masonry walls with cement plaster and provided roofing with asbestos sheets in the property under survey no. 340/1-C of village Cuncolim without obtaining prior permission from this council.
The Cuncolim Municipal Chief Officer had recently rejected the application for a construction licence filed by the company on a host of grounds.