The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed all coastal panchayats to file sworn affidavits detailing the number of construction permissions, trade licences and occupancy certificates granted to commercial establishments so far, as it broadened the scope of inquiry in the wake of the fatal fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora. My request to the judiciary is to please make the Block Development Office (BDO), Directorate of Panchayat (DOP), and Panchayat Minister also answerable for the same. It is well known in Goa that even panchayat decisions are often directed and even overruled by BDO/DOP/Goa Panchayat minister; for various reasons which could include political interference, corruption and high level influence by wealthy entities; the Arpora fire accident surely could not have been only the fault of the respective Arpora panchayat. The BDO/DOP/Panchayat Minister paid by the taxpayers must be made accountable to do their basic jobs in the first place; instead of burdening the judiciary, activists and wasting more public funds.
