Panaji: The La Marvel Residents Welfare Association (LMRWA), Dona Paula, has accused the civic authorities of prolonged inaction and bias over alleged encroachments and dumping of construction and demolition waste on a privately owned open space in Dona Paula.
In a letter addressed to the CCP commissioner, the association stated that the affected land, an open space of La Marvel Colony and Marivel village, belongs exclusively to La Marvel Colony and its residents. The association claimed it repeatedly informed the CCP about encroachments and dumping activities on this land, but its complaints were ignored.
“Due to complete apathy and bias shown towards our earlier complaints, and a total disregard for the rule of law, the illegal situation has worsened and reached its present stage,” the letter stated.Ajoy Barretto, president of the La Marvel Residents Welfare Association, said the residents attempted to speak to mayor Rohit Monserrate, but their plea fell on deaf ears.In the interim, the association placed three demands before the civic authorities. These are a joint inspection of the disputed open space seven working days after receipt of the letter by CCP engineers along with the executive committee of the association. The inspection, the association insisted, must be carried out with police escor.The association also demanded a detailed land survey during the inspection. It further demanded that the CCP prepare a comprehensive technical report based on the joint inspection and survey. This report, it said, should form the legal basis for restoring the open space to its original condition.On Thursday, excavation work was being carried out at the site and the residents flagged the issue by writing to the Panaji police. “Instead of conducting a site inspection and debris removal, the CCP is illegally extracting mud and debris at the same site without a work order,” said Barretto.
