Will vacate illegal structures at Cunchelim in 6 weeks, occupants tell HC

Panaji: The occupants of four illegal structures on govt land in Cunchelim received temporary relief after they assured the high court they would vacate within six weeks. The other illegal structures in the area were already demolished by govt.

The petitioners, Sikha Jha, Rajesh Jha, Girish Nayak, and Tulsiram Lodhi, went to the high court seeking a stay on the demolition.

The court did not stay the demolition but recorded their undertaking that they would vacate their structures in six weeks. “As far as the fraud committed by the office bearers of the comunidade, criminal action will be taken against them. They will be liable both civilly and criminally, and action will be taken,” advocate general Devidas Pangam said.

Govt acquired the land from the comunidade to set up burial grounds for three communities, Pangam told the high court. The occupants of the illegal structures submitted to the high court that they paid the comunidade members who permitted them to construct their structures. Pangam said they illegally encroached on govt land and lacked any legal documentation. He added that they did not have electricity or water connections and were not paying any taxes to govt.

Govt demolished more than 30 unauthorised houses built on govt land, and the demolition proceeded under Section 6 of the Goa (Land Prohibition on Construction) Act 1995.