TIDBITS - (Vote Begets Illegalities) Govt to amend Panchayati Raj Act to put a leash on illegal structures. Navhind Times, Friday, February 20, 2004.
The Panchayats under the Panchayat Raj Act 1994 have been armed with the deterrent to illegal constructions vide section 66. If at all there are almost 4,856 registered cases of illegal constructions around the Goan panchayat areas, it is not because the Panchayat Raj Act was defective. It is because the successive Governments have been defective. Take an example of the Mandrem MLA Mr. Laximikant Parsenkar when he goes to say that the reasons why illegal constructions mushroom around the state should be found out before taking any decision about the demolition of the illegal constructions. The reasons are very well known to us, the public. The likes of Laximikant Parsenkars interfere in the working of the law. One Panchayat Minister has gone on record of saying to a person indulging in illegal construction: "You are building in your own property. The Panchayat does not give you a licence. You build nevertheless. Panchayat brings in a stay order. A're Wah! Who is the Panchayat to stop you? Take the instance of Siolim-Sodiem Panchayat. This headline appears on page 6 of Navhind Times ( 20/2/04) "Illegal digging of hill: Sodiem-Siolim sarpanch files complaint." If the sarpanch is seen doing his job effectively, I would like to ask him as to why the Sodiem-Siolim Panchayat building has a proper set-back while the building next door has its 1st floor veranda projecting on the main road? Did he not allow this construction? What happens to the present road widening process? It is believed that the owner of the building takes the bus operators to task if the buses plying on the road touch his balcony. And that this particular sarpanch is a MLA material is a well known fact. Conscientious panch members of Panchayats have been howling for the amendment of the Panchayat Raj Act for years now. The Parrikar Government will do no such thing in a jiffy. If it can assuage and pamper the prostitutes of Baina for votes, it will go easy on the illegal constructions as long as the votes are seen coming. I have been personally telling Mr. Manohar Parrikar to take note of the illegal construction undertaken by the clerk of the Moira Panchayat, defying all Panchayat norms. The Deputy Director of Panchayat probably does not even know how deep the file has been buriedin his cubboards. In any case, we have not forgotten about it. In time he will have to resurrect the file in a jiffy. In another case, We have challenged the Order passed by the Director of Panchayats allowing a person to block a perfectly legitimate road servicing many other properties among which is a Chapel. We refused his advice that we should approach the Courts on the basis of "He has given the Order which is bad in taste and without verifying the facts and he has to rescind it." The case is presently with the Development Commissioner, who is the Panchayat Secretary. If this fails, we have already warned Mr. Borkar, the Director of Panchayats to be ready to face the ire of 100 odd people gheraoing him in his office until justice is done. No Courts. Votes begets illegalities of all sorts. The present Government setup and anyone aspiring to gain Government office in the near future will go to any length to see that not a single vote is lost. Sincerity of purpose has become a hogwash. Cheers Floriano Lobo goasuraj ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
