01.04.2008 - Goanda?...
Rain dampens tourist spirts in Canacona
 
CANACONA, MARCH 24 – They had expected to savour Goa’s famed sand, sea and sun, but ended up with sand, sea and showers.
Unseasonal rains lashing Goa since Friday have played havoc on those tourists staying in temporary beach-huts at Agonda, Palolem, Patnem and Colomb beaches in Canacona taluka.
Many of these tourists are forced to look for alternate arrangements, as it has become virtually impossible to occupy the rain-drenched beach huts.
As such, rent-out rooms along the village interiors have suddenly been in high demand, as salvage operations of beach-huts are in full swing.
Owners of beach shacks and other temporary erected tourist establishments like kiosks and gaddas had a tough time saving their goods, while rains continued to hit the taluka.
While they were trying to salvage their belongings, Tourist Police made their presence at Palolem beach to enforce the court strictures on beach beds, beach-umbrellas, which have been blocking public access to the beach.
The weekly Saturday’s bazaar at Chaudi was also deserted, with only a few turning up to purchase provisions, as the rains have provided little or no respite since Friday.

Canacona locals against encroachment survey

CANACONA, MARCH 28 – Strong resentment is brewing among coastal residents of Canacona, after authorities have threatened to demolish their structures, which violate the CRZ rules.
Speaking to Herald, some affected residents have demanded that authorities should scrap the recent survey conducted to identify the encroachments.
“Instead, they should conduct a common survey along the line of the one conducted under the provisions of Goa Land Revenue Code in 1972-73. Otherwise, locals who have their residential houses even before February 1991 will be badly affected and will displaced in their own land,” a resident told Herald.
It is pointed out that the survey conducted under Revenue code in 1972-73 was promulgated in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, a number of structures and extensions were built, but were not reflected on any survey or records of local bodies. The CRZ notification came into force on February 19, 1991.
“People having mundkarial order, Sale Deed and House Tax receipts may show their existence of their houses prior to 1991. Besides, there may not be records like permissions/licenses of structures shown on survey plan, or of extensions carried out prior to 1991,” remarked Canacona former Deputy Chairperson Dayanand Pagui.
“Hence, these too can be termed as structure after 1991 and taken up for demolitions, which may come true of many hutments of toddy-tappers, fisherfolks in the coastal areas,” he added.
Incidentally, the present survey prepared by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records was done in reference to existing survey plans prepared and promulgated under Land Revenue Code or on the basis of permissions/licenses issued by local bodies.
“But what about constructions and extensions done prior to 1991, but not assessed for house Tax,” asked former deputy sarpanch of the erstwhile Palolem-Nagarcem panchayat Shantaji Naik Gaonkar.
Residents who received notices of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) regarding their encroachments have been called to appear in person on April 2 with documents of their structures to prove their existence before February 1991.
“I intend to complete the process within the 60-day deadline provided by the court. I’ll hear the parties from April 2 onwards and will pass orders based on documents produced by the parties,” CMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes told Herald.
According to Mr Fernandes, the documents to ascertain the legality of the structures include permissions from the panchayat, TCP/PDA, health centre or electricity department.
Asks Shantaji Naik Gaonkar: “If these documents existed with these people, their structures would have been legal in the original survey plan irrespective of the year of constructions. But since there was no survey from 1976 to 1991, almost all the houses will be termed as illegal.”
Voicing similar views, Dayanand Pagui claimed that identifying all houses as illegal would be a catastrophe. “People will be displaced from their homes, prompting law and order problem for the authorities,” he said.
 01.04.2008 - Goanda?...