Is Calangute VP Secretary Arjun Velip Protecting Illegal Structures, Slated For Demolition?

CALANGUTE, GOA: Calangute Village Panchayat secretary Arjun Velip when queried by a journalist on Thursday, regarding the status of various illegal structures in the village and as to why they were not being demolished, in spite of demolition notices sent out by the Panchayat, tried to misguide the scribe, by quoting Section 66, sub section 7 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act and Rules, claiming that when a respondent or defendant (person against whose property or house or structure a demolition notice has been issued) approaches the appellate authority (in this case the Directorate of Panchayats} with an application, the Village Panchayat cannot go ahead with the demolition and is bound to wait for the disposal of the matter by the Directorate of Panchayats.

However, several legal experts and senior advocates in Goa, as well as High Court judgements accessed by IndyaTv.in, opined and clearly indicated that if there was no specific stay or restraining order passed or imposed by the appellate authority, the village panchayat was free to go ahead with the demolition in accordance with the law.

“All these illegal activities at the Calangute Village Panchayat are going on with the blessings of the local MLA and the Sarpanch is party to these illegal activities,” – Sudesh Mayekar (former Dy Sarpanch and present ward member, Calangute VP)

“The Calangute VP secretary Arjun Velip is either ill-informed or is misguiding you on purpose. If there is no specific stay order, the Panchayat can go ahead with the demolition,” a former Goa Law Minister opined.

It is obvious that the Calangute Village Panchayat, its officials including the Secretary and the Sarpanch are not interested in demolishing illegal structures in their jurisdiction, claimed Minakshi Shinde of the Goa Against Corruption (GAC).

Sources alleged the local MLA was protecting illegal structures, filling of fields and hill cutting, not just in Calangute, but also in Candolim, Parra and Arpora (Read Here) and that the Village Panchayats of these four villages functioned as per his ditkats and orders.

“In the villages of Candolim, Calangute, Arpora and Parra, nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the residents/properties have some ‘illegal’ work in their backyards. It’s a case of you scratch my back, I scratch yours,” said a prominent social worker and environmentalist from Candolim, who didn’t want to be named.

According to Sudesh Mayekar, former Dy Sarpanch and present ward member of Ward No. 3 of the Calangute VP, “All these illegal activities at the Panchayat are going on with the blessings of the local MLA and the Sarpanch is party to these illegal activities. In my opinion if the law says demolition is required, the VP must go ahead with the demolition.”