The order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to “seal 175 structures – within the jurisdiction of Anjuna panchayat – so that such structures are not used for any commercial purposes” has left villagers hopeful of better mornings.
Whilst Anjuna Sarpanch Laximidas Chimulkar is, “acting on the High Court order,” owners of the 175 establishments are mulling the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court for a stay.
“My parents first lived in a small hut. We cannot stay in a small hut forever so we slowly built the place up and started a small business. The CRZ came into existence much later in 1991, so why are we being targeted?” asks affected Carlos Fernandes.
One of the contentions of the High Court was that an earlier order of the Supreme Court was used as an excuse by the Anjuna Panchayat to take it easy on these 175 structures.
That Supreme Court ruling reads; “However, the petitioners or the Gram Panchayat shall not dispose off any show-cause notice and shall not drop the proceedings for removal of unauthorized constructions without prior approval of the High Court.”
“I think the Supreme Court judgment was not properly understood. Soon after getting the SC judgment we approached the High Court and the misunderstanding arose thereafter. It was never the intention of the panchayat to bypass any order of the High Court,” stated four-time panch Surendra Govekar.
“You cannot blame the sarpanch or the panchayat for misunderstanding the Supreme Court order. It was the duty of the advocate hired to explain the order which it appears was not done,” stated Francisco sitting outside the panchayat office.
One view in the village is that the panchayat is toeing the line of outsiders running most of these 175 structures, many even breaching the noise pollution rules of the Supreme Court.
There are many defending the panchayat. “Why point fingers at our local body when the government turned a blind eye when Sunburn held its first day without any permission and government officers overseeing the event? There were over 2000 police officers and mamlatadar and all when permission was given only on the second day after the High Court intervention,” said a gauncar from the village in whose land the festival was held.
“I have written four letters to CRZ requesting for demolition of illegal places and there is no reply yet. I do agree that places taken on rent by outsiders are built beyond permissible limits,” admits panch member Govekar, displaying the emails.
“I have told the people to get together where illegalities are being built and to stop them forthwith but they do not come forward. If we stopped illegalities united, no outsider would come and behave the way they are,” argued Govekar, who himself was once shot at for protesting illegalities.
“The locals who are affected by the High Court order should fight the case on grounds of sons of the soil with the sea being our master and the authorities should have guided them to go in for temporary structures,” thinks businessman Michael.
“I am happy with the order because for months we have been protesting loud music being played every day beyond the stipulated time. With these places sealed, now we will be able to sleep, hopefully,” says Astrid one of the campaigners against noise pollution in the village.
“No comments,” stated former Anjuna sarpanch Savio Almeida.
As the panchayat, along with other government authorities, starts the process of sealing establishments, villagers have begun to realise where and when it all started going wrong.
