Panchayat minister of Goa advocates removal of illegal structures to comply with HC order in Calangute

Calangute: Govt does not want to create difficulties for the people, but panchayats have to identify illegal structures and remove them to comply with the recent order of the high court, panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho said on Thursday.
Talking at the inauguration of the renovated Candolim panchayat ghar, he said, “The high court order is clear on one thing: whatever is there on the roads, on the margins, touching the road, and blocking the traffic should be removed, and the structures should be pushed back.”
Following the March 6 order of the high court, the directorate of panchayats (DoP) issued directions to panchayats to identify such illegal structures.
“People have gone on building wherever they could. But there has to be some system in place,” Godinho said.
Godinho said the Candolim panchayat is one of the three best-rated panchayats, along with Chicalim and Honda, in terms of cleanliness.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said they have already cleared all the roadside obstructions.
“A few residents had gone to the HC against the road widening, and there is an HC order that the village panchayat of Candolim, along with the planning authority, is entitled to remove the encroachment to make way for the public to walk, for traffic and for parking,” he said.