Saunta Vaddo resort structures raze halted despite HC order

Calangute: Three of the 16 illegal structures spread over 40,000sqm at a Saunta Vaddo resort were demolished on Monday, by a high court order passed earlier this month. However, the demolition was halted after intervention by the panchayat secretary.

Panchayat secretary Arjun Velip told reporters they must verify the facts before razing the remaining structures.

Petitioner Sylvester D’Souza said halting the demolition amounts to contempt of court, as there was no stay order.

In 2010, D’Souza filed the first complaint that the four-star resort in survey no. 242/1 was illegal because it lacked a construction license, town and country planning department approval, and an occupancy certificate.

Following his complaint, the Calangute panchayat inspected the site and confirmed violations.

Then panchayat secretary, Subodh Prabhu, in his report stated, “Various structures were built in gross violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification of 1991. Sand dunes have been cut for carrying out the illegal construction.”

As the owners had no permission, the panchayat issued a demolition order on Dec 22, 2011. Years later, with no action from the panchayat, D’Souza approached the HC. On May 7, HC directed the panchayat to execute the order.