MAPUSA
The wheels of administration have finally started moving against the illegal constructions that have come up on government land in coastal Siolim in violation of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) regulations.
The Deputy Collector of Bardez has directed the mamlatdar to conduct a site inspection and submit a report on the violation of CRZ regulations and obstruction of a public beach in Siolim.
The local panchayat has also conducted a site inspection of one of the illegal constructions on the beach.
“Conduct a site inspection and submit a report to this office on the violation of CRZ and obstruction of Siolim Bailo Uddo beach within one week,” said Kapil Phadte, Deputy Collector in a letter to the mamlatdar of Bardez.
The Deputy Collector told The Goan that based on the report of the mamlatdar, further action will be initiated in the matter.
It may be recalled that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had conducted an inspection of the site based on the complaint of a Siolim resident, Alex Pereira, and found that a local was involved in illegal construction on the banks of River Chapora in Survey 119 which is government land at Uddo in Siolim, in violation of the CRZ rules.
The authority had directed the North Goa Collector to reclaim the government land to its original position. It had also imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh per structure on the persons involved in illegal construction activities near the Uddo beach in Siolim.
In the meanwhile, the Siolim-Marna panchayat, which was initially hesitant, finally conducted a site inspection of the illegal construction in Survey 119 on February 9.
“This is the third time that a notice was issued to conduct a site inspection of the illegal construction concerned. Twice earlier, the inspections were postponed on flimsy grounds,” informed Alex Pereira, the complainant.
He said the panchayat has promised to give him the report of the inspection within four days.
According to the complainant, the construction has been done very close to the Chapora River and on government land.
He also said that more such constructions were being carried out on the beach by others.
