MARGAO
Flying squads set by the administration to check illegalities have long been accused of playing truant or arriving late at the site, leaving citizens to wonder whether the flying squads could not fly with their wings clipped by the powers that be.
But, thanks to the High Court order in a suo moto public interest litigation, Goa will have flying squads in both districts right at the taluka level with set directives and guidelines on how to proceed after receiving information on illegalities and illegal construction.
Constituting the flying squads in each taluka to expeditiously address complaints pertaining to illegal/unauthorised construction, illegal land filling, and illegal hill cutting on private, government, and comunidade land, South Goa Collector, Egna Cleetus, has constituted the taluka level flying squads comprising a host of officials. A similar order was passed by North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte on Wednesday.
The order issued by the collectors stated that the taluka level flying squads will consist of the Deputy Collector & SDO of the respective Sub-Division as in-charge, the taluka Mamlatdar as deputy in charge, the Police Inspector of the concerned jurisdiction, the Chief Officer of the Municipal Councils within the Taluka, the Block Development Officer of the respective Block, the Talathi of the concerned village, and a representative of the Town and Country Planning Department (in cases of illegal hill cutting/land filling).
The taluka level flying squads shall be provided with a mobile handset along with a dedicated official contact number with WhatsApp facility by the Deputy Collectors & SDOs with immediate effect. The squads shall remain operational throughout the year, including on public holidays and weekends. In the event of the absence of any member of the squad due to leave or other exigency, the designated link officer shall discharge the requisite duties.
The in-charge of the taluka level flying squad/Deputy Collector & SDO shall ensure the immediate activation of the squad in their respective jurisdiction. Further, the in-charge of the squad/Deputy Collector & SDO shall submit a weekly consolidated report every Monday via email at [email protected].
