VASCO
In what could be good news for hundreds of people planning to build houses in Mormugao taluka, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Mormugao Planning Development Authority (MPDA) to file a review petition in the High Court regarding the naval permission clause for construction within the 4-km radius of Dabolim Airport.
Speaking to reporters, MPDA Chairman and Cuncolim BJP MLA Clafacio Dias said the MPDA had initially gone to the high court over the Naval NOC clause, while he had taken over as the Chairman in September 2019.
"We had gone to the High Court but our advocate did not do a proper study and the case went in favour of the Navy and a judgement was issued that for any construction-related works in the 4-km radius of the airport, Naval permission was required which affected many common people who had invested in properties or taken loans for construction of houses.”
“The people had to place files before the airport authority, naval authority and defence, which was a lengthy procedure and around 55 developmental files put before the Navy by MPDA have not been cleared in the last many months," said Dias.
The MPDA chairman said he had convened a meeting after taking charge and they decided to go to the Supreme Court on the issue.
“However, the matter got delayed as I got infected with Covid. After I recovered, we approached the Supreme Court and there was a hearing today. Our advocate informed us that we got an order from Supreme Court permitting us to file a review petition on the Naval permission issue in the High Court and represent our concerns.”
“The order also has said that we have permission to approach the Supreme Court again on the issue if required.”
“This is a great news for the MPDA and we will now engage a High Court advocate and take up the matter again and place all our important points again before the court, which will be beneficial for the common people and get the issue resolved," said Dias.
