PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has given the Anjuna panchayat additional time -- this time until December 6 to give a “precise timeline” and the course of action by which they plan to act on the 275 “prima facie illegal structures” that are located within the No Development Zone along the coast of Anjuna village that is currently under the scanner of the High Court.
The High Court, which is hearing a suo motu public interest litigation petition against the illegal constructions along the coast had ordered a joint inspection which found that there were around 275 structures that were “prima facie illegal” and included a metal framework standing on a cement plinth.
“The Joint Inspection Report refers to certain steel fabricated structures with permanent cement concrete plinths in the NDZ (No Development Zone). At least, prima facie, even such structures cannot come up within NDZ. Though the report is not quite clear, it appears that some metal fabricated structures are in the process of being put up. Accordingly, the Panchayat should take immediate action to stop such constructions and in any case to stop the user of such structures for commercial purpose,” the High Court bench of Justices M S Sonak and Bharat Deshpande ruled.
“The Sarpanch/Secretary of Village Panchayat of Anjuna to file an affidavit giving the precise timeline and the course of action that will be adopted by the Panchayat concerning the 275 prima facie illegal structures referred to in the Joint Inspection Report. In the affidavit to be filed, the status report regarding the action taken should be filed by the Sarpanch/Secretary before us,” the High Court also said.
“In the meanwhile, the Panchayat should initiate immediate action particularly against cases where construction/structures have come up within NDZ and the same are being used for commercial purposes,” the High Court also said.
At the last hearing the High Court had ordered the enforcement authorities to maintain a “strict vigil” of violations along the coast the High Court said while observing that “throughout the tourist season, the persons who put up such illegal constructions without regard for the environment or the legal provisions occupy and commercially exploit such constructions.”
