Action against illegal buildings around Goa airport stalled

Despite the High Court of Bombay at Goa ordering the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Indian Navy to take action against illegal constructions around the Goa International Airport within nine months, action against the unauthorised constructions has been delayed. Taking serious notice of the delay, the high court has said that it will study if any action under the Contempt of Courts Act is required. A local resident has moved contempt proceedings against the Indian Navy and other officials, not acting against the unauthorised constructions. In February 2020, the high court urged the Indian Navy and the DGCA to take action against the illegal constructions within nine months and register a compliance report by March 2021. The court had also declared directions to South Goa collector, DGCA, Chicalim panchayat and MPDA to assure that illegal structures are not allowed in the vicinity of the Goa International Airport. According to the officials, a joint survey carried out by the Indian Navy, the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority and other government bodies in survey no. 60/2 recognised at least 75 illegal houses. The court had directed to take action against illegal constructions built by Venture Building Dreams in survey No. 60/2 of Chicalim. Kamla Prasad Yadav, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s close aide and the Chicalim deputy sarpanch, owns Venture Building Dreams. The Indian Navy had urged the MPDA and the Chicalim panchayat for details of the unauthorised constructions, but the two bodies have neglected the request. There are illegal structures in survey numbers 63/5 and 63/8 too. The area has about 75 houses, but MPDA said that they have the records of only two buildings, a government official informed. The panchayat and other state government bodies have failed to present the required details of the residential houses to the DGCA and the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy, in a statement, said that a reply would be listed in the court by July 26. The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s rules issued in 2015, restrain the height of buildings within a 20 km radius of an aerodrome. The rules need builders and others to get a NOC from the Indian Navy for construction near the runway. Image Source Also read: DTCP ramps up action against illegal constructions in Gurugram Also read: Gurugram demolition drive: 3 illegal colonies razed