Construction of a villa at survey no. 149/1-A in Moira, Goa, is continuing despite an immediate stop-work order issued by the Block Development Officer (BDO), Bardez-II, and a subsequent site inspection, according to a report by the Times of India – Goa.
The dispute centres on allegations that permission granted for house repairs was used to undertake fresh construction. The complaint is pending before the BDO, who ordered the inspection and is yet to issue a final order, the report said. Construction has reportedly advanced close to completion even though questions remain over ownership documents and statutory approvals.
The stop-work notice was issued under Section 66(6) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. It directed the reported owner of the structure, Antonio Calado, to halt the work immediately and submit documents within three days of receiving the notice.
The documents sought under the notice include proof of ownership, construction permission from Moira panchayat and approved building plans. It also sought a conversion sanad, clearances from the town and country planning department or the North Goa planning and development authority, and the cadastral survey plan with Form I and XIV.
The case has also raised questions about the ability of village-level institutions to enforce orders issued by administrative authorities. Author Siddharth Shanghvi, who complained about the construction, alleged that the panchayat was allowing land to be developed without the required permissions. He also said the stop-work order had not been enforced despite the inspection being completed.
“The panchayat is knowingly allowing land to be usurped and developed. A stop work order stands. The director has ordered an inspection. The inspection has happened. Now, the panchayat neither enforces the order nor acknowledges it while my RTI applications on these very permissions have gone unanswered,” Shanghvi was quoted as saying.
Shanghvi also alleged that different government arms had failed to act on decisions taken by one another, describing the situation as open defiance at the village level. The report did not include a response from the reported owner or a detailed reply from the panchayat to the allegations.
The matter remains before the BDO, Bardez-II, pending a final order on whether repair permission was misused for new construction and whether the required ownership, planning, conversion and building documents are in place. Until that determination, the stop-work direction remains the central administrative action reported in the case.