MARGAO
The Citizens for Democracy Goa (CFD) on Thursday criticized the state government for its inadequate response to recent Supreme Court directions on illegal constructions.
CFD Convenor Elvis Gomes emphasized that the government must fully implement the SC's directives, which extend beyond "bulldozer justice" to encompass broader issues such as accountability for officials and restrictions on zone changes: The SC, Gomes said, mandates punishment, including contempt of court proceedings, for officials who ignore illegal constructions and also prohibits arbitrary modifications to zonal plans that benefit individuals while disregarding public interest and environmental concerns.
Gomes also highlighted the need to stay and review all past zone changes in the light of the Supreme Court order in the case of UP Avas Vikas Nigam as he said that these changes, carried out by the TCP Board, are likely to violate the SC's order, which emphasizes the primacy of public interest and environmental considerations in development planning.
He has argued that the entire Board, not just the Chief Town Planner, should face criminal charges for disregarding public interest and environmental concerns in zone change decisions. He added that the order should encourage citizen action and called upon Landowners, including communidades, to file cases against officials who permit illegal constructions. “There was good case to review Large-scale projects such as Bhutani, DLF, the NH66 deviation done by Ministry of Road Transport at GMC Bambolim and even those projects carried out by Government in violation of statutes to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and public interest”, he added.
Gomes pointed to the recent demolition in Assagao as an example of the "bulldozer raj" prevalent in some states, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in enforcement. He also emphasized that the SC order will support the ongoing High Court PIL against illegal constructions in Goa. “The circular issued must go beyond tackling ‘bulldozer raj’. The entire TCP board should be held to criminal liability in view of the Supreme Court’s directions.
“More than the Chief Town Planner of the TCP department, the Board is responsible and should be made to face criminal charges for disregarding public interest and environment concerns in changing zones,” said Gomes.
