MARGAO
In what is seen as a major victory for Carmonkars after a long drawn battle against the mega housing project, Mumbai-based Raheja Universal Pvt. Ltd has finally decided not to implement the group housing project in Carmona village.
In fact, the real estate major has filed an affidavit in the High Court earlier this month categorically stating that it has taken an in-principle decision not to implement the group housing project in its property at Carmona.
Raheja Universal further stated that it does not propose to undertake any activities based upon the permissions, including the technical clearance and the construction licenses. In fact, Raheja told the Court that it does not propose to even apply for any renewal of the technical clearance order and the construction licence dated 15.09.2015.
After receiving the technical clearance order dated May 28, 2015, the Rajehas had obtained the construction license on September 15, 2015, which later got lapsed after the completion of the three year period on September 15, 2018. The Technical Clearance Order was issued to the Rahejas with the condition that the same shall be valid for three years from the date of issuance of Construction License, provided the Construction License is issued within the period of three years.
The affidavit filed in the High Court in the Public Interest Litigation filed by the three petitioners, Carmona Village Social And Welfare Forum through Succorro Miranda, Joaozinho Da S F A Martins and Lenin Sebastiao D’Costa, clearly stated that the Rahejas have taken an in principle decision not to implement the project, namely group housing in the property.
It was further stated in the affidavit that the real estate developer will not apply for renewal of the Technical Clearance Order dated 28.05.2015 as also the Construction License dated 15.09.2015, as it does not wish to go ahead with the project.
The petitioners had moved the High Court challenging the validity of certain amendments to The Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010. Further, the petitioners also challenged certain permissions granted to respondent Raheja based on such amendments.
The High Court has since disposed off the petition, but since the Court has not adjudicated on the issue of the constitutional validity/vires of the amendments, the Court has said the issue is left open.
Petitioner in the High Court Socorro Miranda on Sunday announced the decision by the Rahejas not to implement the group housing project in Carmona village. At the Sunday gram sabha, Miranda thanked the people of Carmona and all those who had participated in the agitation and rallied against the housing project proposed by the Mumbai-based realtor in the village.
The Raheja housing project at Carmona, which had proposed around 600-odd housing apartments around a decade and half ago, was the trigger point against the mega housing projects proposed in Salcete and outside.
In fact, the sustained agitation by Carmona villagers against the Rajeha housing on grounds that the project would alter the village demography, had forced the Mumbai-based relator to keep the project on hold, only to propose the group housing project in 2015, which again met with stiff opposition from the villagers.
