MAPUSA
While a united opposition demanded fast tracking of demolition of the controversial bungalow at the Old Goa heritage site, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday told the House that the government will strictly go by the verdict of the court in the matter.
Sawant also said that the construction was not a new one as some people chose to believe and the local panchayat had issued a reconstruction licence to the owner.
“The matter is in the High Court and therefore sub-judice. The matter is also with the Additional Director of Panchayat which is a quasi-judicial authority. The government will abide with whatever decision the court takes in the matter,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister was responding to a question raised by Cumbarjua MLA, Rajesh Faldesai who demanded immediate demolition of the illegal bungalow at the Old Goa heritage site.
Sawant informed that Old Goa panchayat has already revoked the construction license to the structure and thereafter also issued a demolition order against it.
He said both the issues were challenged before the Additional Director of Panchayat.
He also said that the matter was adjourned in order to give reasonable opportunity to the litigant/parties in the interest of principle of natural justice.
He further disclosed that three people have filed intervention petitions in the case before the Additional Director of Panchayat.
Earlier, while calling for immediate demolition of the illegal bungalow, Cumbarjua MLA, Rajesh Faldesai said all the NOCs for the structure were fraudulently obtained
“People come to Old Goa to seek blessings of the Goencho Saib. They don’t come to see bungalows. People from my constituency and all over Goa are hurt. Government should not play with the sentiments of the people. My appeal to the CM is to fast-track the issue and demolish the structure at the earliest,” Faldesai said.
Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas said UNESCO has notified the site in Old Goa as protected area.
“Do we require a panchayat minister and other ministers to act in such matters? Can’t the CM intervene and give an overriding blanket order on demolishing the structure?” Viegas said.
Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai said the TCP department should demarcate a buffer zone around the UNESCO notified site so that no development takes place around the site in future.
TCP Minister, Vishwajit Rane informed that his department had not issued any permission to the controversial structure.
“The owners had approached the National Monuments Authority under the Union Ministry for Culture and obtained the re-construction licence,” Rane said.
St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar, Velim MLA, Cruz Silva and Cuncolim MLA, Yuri Alemao also spoke.
