the goan I network
MARGAO
Will Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai intervene and allay the apprehensions and concerns of both citizens and lawyers over inadequate parking provision in the new Margao Civil and Criminal Court building coming up near the old market circle right in his backyard?
This question has assumed significance since fingers are pointed at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) and the Margao Municipal Council for allegedly approving the building plans and issuing licences respectively in violation of building rules. While the SGPDA comes directly under the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, Goa Forward is presently presiding the affairs of the Margao Municipal Council.
Days after a city-based NGO Green Goa Foundation threatened to drag the SGPDA and the Margao Municipal Council to the High Court, city lawyers under the banner of South Goa Advocates Association has knocked the doors of the Law Minister to initiate steps to get the number of parking slots in the court building under construction increased as per the rules. They contended that the new court building has a provision for only 18 car parking slots when the TCP rules mandate minimum provision of parking slots for 75 cars.
“The Association has inspected the approved plans for the construction of the new Civil and Criminal Court adjacent to the existing District and Sessions court. It has been noticed that the SGPDA and MMC have fraudulently and in total violation of the building rules in force have approved the construction of the court building,” asserted South Goa Advocates Association President Antonio Clovis da Costa.
He pointed out that after perusal of the plans, it is seen that while granting approvals, the SGPDA and the MMC have in fact noted that the required car parking space for the building is 75 cars, but the same has been approved with space for 18 cars,” he said.
He said it is indeed surprising as to how the SGPDA and the MMC could have granted the approval for the construction of the building as hundreds of litigants and lawyers, besides Judges and Court staff will be visiting the building on a daily basis once the same is completed.
“If one visits the district court even today, it is seen that the present parking is inadequate for the lawyers and litigants visiting the district court,” he said, adding that it is a foregone conclusion that if the parking space for the under construction Civil and Criminal Court building is not increased, there will be utter chaos within the compound of the District and Sessions court and also the new Civil and Criminal court under construction, leaving no option for the lawyers and litigants to park their vehicles on the road in front of the court building, which is metres away from the old market circle.
The issue was raised by the city-lawyers with Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte during his recent meeting with a delegation of South Goa Advocates Association. “We have drawn the attention of Law Minister Nilesh Cabral, Chief Secretary and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar to look into the issue. Otherwise, we may have no alternative, but to approach the High Court seeking necessary directions,” Adv Clovis said.
Twist in court building! SGPDA, MMC seek licence number to trace file
MARGAO: In an interesting development on the controversial court building, both the SGPDA and Margao Municipal Council have maintained that they will be able to track down the file pertaining to the building only if someone provides the licence number, even as the PDA has fixed an inspection of the building on October 22. SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar said licence for the court building has not been issued during his tenure, saying “even my staff members have maintained that they are unaware when the building was approved by the PDA.”
Ashok Kumar said the PDA may be able to track down the file if someone cites the file number of the development permission issued for the building. He nevertheless said the PDA has fixed an inspection of the court building on October 22.
Margao Municipal Engineer Arsekar said he has asked his staff to trace the construction file and to ascertain when exactly the civic body had issued permission for the court building.
The new court building has a provision for only 18 car parking slots when the TCP rules mandate minimum provision of parking slots for 75 cars
In the approved plans for the construction of the new court adjacent to the existing District and Sessions court, SGPDA and MMC have fraudulently and in total violation of the building rules in force have approved the construction
While granting approvals, SGPDA and MMC have noted that the required car parking space for the building is 75 cars, but the same has been approved with space for 18 cars
