Challenge to resort demolition order after 14 years dismissed

Panaji: The directorate of panchayats has dismissed an application by a resort owner at Saunta Vaddo, Calangute, who challenged a demolition order of the Calangute village panchayat after 14 years.

The owner went to the director of panchayats seeking condonation of delay of 5,231 days to appeal against a 2011 demolition order of illegal structures.

The additional director of panchayats I observed that Joseph Sylvester da Rosa failed to justify the delay in filing his appeal and found his reasons justifying the delay to be vague and unsubstantiated.

The additional director observed that Rosa made vague statements regarding various litigations being pursued before various authorities, on account of which he had to run from pillar to post, and stated that he was under the impression that the demolition order need not be challenged.

He stated that due to his age and ill health, he inadvertently skipped challenging the order until he received a notice in a petition filed in the high court.

The additional director observed that Rosa filed the appeal before it six months after he received a notice of the hearing before the high court and failed to justify this further delay.

The July 20, 2011, site inspection report found structures constructed in gross violation of CRZ notification of 1991.

The inspection also noted that sand dunes had been cut for carrying out the illegal constructions. One sand dune cut was around 20m. It further noted that four wells were constructed within 200m of the high tide lines and solar system heaters have been erected on RCC slabs. The inspection found a septic tank constructed in the area close to the beach, which belongs to the captain of ports department.