Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: In a major relief to several house owners and shopkeepers in New Vaddem, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to temporarily hold off on demolition notices issued as per High Court directives concerning road encroachments. The council’s decision comes in light of new findings indicating that many of the structures in question may have existed before the road in dispute was laid.
MMC chairperson Girish Borker informed that the civic body had initially issued notices to residents and businesses in New Vaddem, following the High Court’s instructions to clear encroachments obstructing road widening works. However, further examination revealed critical discrepancies.
“We have now realised that houses came first and the road came later. As such, there is no question of these structures objecting to road expansion works,” said Borker. “The road does not reflect in the survey plan, and we have decided to keep the point in abeyance during our special council meeting.”
Borker said the MMC had reached out to the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) to seek clarification and assistance.
“We have written to the PWD and MPDA on the issue and requested them to help the residents of the area who may not fall under the purview of the HC directives. We will also take the issue up with our MLAs and the government to help the people of the area,” he added.
Ward councillor Yatin Kamurlekar, who represents the area, elaborated on the sequence of events that led to the current situation. He said that the High Court had directed a survey of all residential and commercial structures falling in road widening areas along major and village roads.
“MMC accordingly served notices to commercial establishments along the road from Goa Shipyard Limited to the last stop at New Vaddem,” Kamurlekar explained. “The residents of my ward approached me, and we decided to explore options and write to the PWD seeking information about the road — specifically whether it was ever demarcated or if land had been acquired for its construction.”
He said their inquiries revealed that the PWD had no official records or land acquisition details pertaining to the road. “We also got information that the road did not reflect in the 1971 survey plan. Some houses were built before 1971, and the road was only laid in 1974. These houses clearly cannot be considered encroachments,” said Kamurlekar.
Based on these findings, Kamurlekar said he wrote to the MMC Chief Officer, arguing that the properties in question did not fall within the scope of the High Court’s order.
“We then requested the MMC to take a legal opinion before creating unnecessary fear among the residents. The legal opinion also confirmed that the houses predated the road, and we placed this opinion before the council,” he said.
The council then unanimously decided to keep the MMC notices in abeyance, pending further clarification.
“We took a unanimous decision to keep the MMC notices in abeyance till we get further information on the road,” Kamurlekar said, assuring residents that the council stands firmly in support of protecting genuine households from unjust demolition.
