The demolition of illegal constructions is underway in Goa, with cases that made the news being mostly court-ordered directives from about 5 years ago. It's frustrating that the court had to step in due to the inaction of governing bodies like panchayats and municipal corporations. This raises questions about the purpose of having these bodies if they're not doing their job. It's also puzzling why we spend our taxes on elections to choose representatives who seem more interested in collecting bribes than serving the public. The good news is that citizens can still take action to clean up their cities, thanks to provisions like the Right to Information (RTI) and Public Interest Litigation (PIL). For instance, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has been working to demolish illegal structures in areas like Anjuna, which is a big step towards preserving the state's coastal environment. It's heartening to see that there are still ways for citizens to make a difference and hold their leaders accountable, even when the system seems to be failing.
