OLD GOA
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has revoked the technical clearance order granted for construction in an open space at Cujira-Santa Cruz.
In the order issued by the Deputy Town Planner dated October 31, the applicant has been further restrained from constructing any structure in the open space on the basis of the technical clearance order.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on the issue, former Santa Cruz sarpanch Mariano Araujo informed that a former sarpanch got a sale deed executed in a property in Cujira which was divided into 12 plots.
“Of these 12 plots, plot 3 was reserved as open space. However, the former sarpanch fraudulently executed a sale deed and thereafter got technical clearance order from TCP for construction of a structure based on the sale deed,” Araujo stated while adding that upon learning of the same the other plot owners approached him after which he pursued the matter.
“I then asked one of my friends Yogesh Tigadi to file a complaint as I was an elected panch at that time,” Araujo informed while adding that the TCP then issued a show-cause notice to the former sarpanch on December 26, 2022.
“A complaint was also filed with the Vigilance Department,” he stated.
“Later, the TCP issued a revocation order on March 14 this year, which was, however, challenged by the ex-sarpanch in the High Court,” Araujo informed and added that the HC then issued directions to the TCP to decide the matter in two-months time.
“The TCP has now revoked the technical clearance order issued as the said plot is earmarked as open space in the approved plan,” Araujo stated.
Araujo then slammed the current Santa Cruz panchayat authorities for granting construction license to the ex-sarpanch, on December 20, 2022 despite knowing that a complaint was pending with TCP as well as Vigilance Department.
“I have challenged the construction license issued and have already filed a complaint against the then panchayat secretary with the Vigilance Department,” Araujo added and demanded that the government initiate thorough inquiry into the matter as this is only one instance wherein an open space has been grabbed.
“There are other instances in which the former sarpanch has done fraudulent sale deeds to usurp open spaces, which needs to be investigated,” Araujo stated.
Panch Peter Araujo, former sarpanch Prasad Naik and others were present.
