Goa News
Calangute MLA supporting illegal construction, influencing VP not to demolish unlawful structures: Mayekar
CALANGUTE, GOA: Former Aam Aadmi Party Calangute candidate and now BJP leader Sudesh Mayekar today hit out at Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, alleging that Lobo is responsible for all the illegal construction in the constituency.
Promoters of illegal structures in Calangute are given “protection” by the MLA on payment of huge amounts as ‘bribe’ and the Calangute Panchayat which is totally controlled by Lobo’s team turns a blind eye to all illegalities in the area, Mayekar claimed, citing two examples of illegal structures which have not been demolished, in spite of standing demolition orders by the same Panchayat.
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According to social activist Minakshi Shinde, the modus operandi is simple. First a demolition order is issued by the Panchayat, forcing the promoters or builders of illegal constructions to rush to the MLAs office and negotiate a deal. Once the matter is ‘settled’ and the ‘bribe’ is paid, the promoter builders are told to approach the Directorate of Panchayats in an appeal, which drags on for years and the Panchayat demolition order is put in cold storage.
According to activist Minakshi Shinde, Panchayat officials, some panch members, past and present secretaries and sarpanchas along with the MLA are involved in a Rs 300 crore illegal construction racket in Calangute.
In spite of several pending complaints with the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the Village Panchayat has not taken any action, ostensibly on the instructions of the MLA, who is protecting the culprits, Mayekar alleged.
“3-4 Panch members are also involved and the VP secretary and sarpanch are also taken care of,” said Mayekar who is also a panch member.
There are two illegal constructions, where a panch member (and former sarpanch) Francisco Rodrigues of Madda vaddo is involved. Both the structures are blatantly illegal and are still standing for the last one year, Mayekar explained.
Another panch member who did not want to be quoted, claimed that there are more than 80-90 illegal commercial structures in the jurisdiction of the Calangute Village Panchayat, which have the ‘direct protection’ of the MLA.
Lobo’s office denied any involvement in the affairs of the Calangute Panchayat and said they had no say in the running of the Panchayat. (Read More Here)
According to Premanand Divkar, President of the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF), illegal construction work is going on in the No Development Zone (NDZ) right on the Calangute beach.
The CCF had written to the Calangute panchayat and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) against an alleged illegal construction within 100 mts from the low tide line (LTL).
“Massive destruction of the beach is going on at Tivai vaddo where a concrete structure is coming up completely against CRZ norms. As per CRZ rules no one is permitted to erect a concrete structure in the no development zone (NDZ),” Divkar said.
The owner of the private property bearing survey no 158/1 had obtained permission from the GCZMA in 2019 to construct temporary wooden cottages and a shack in his property.
However, a huge concrete construction with concrete and RCC structures is underway in an area of around 7000 sq mts.
According to locals a hotel project with 80 rooms is being constructed and while the authorities ordered a demolition, the owner only demolished a few pillars and filed a compliance request.