Navhind Times
Panaji, Nov 2 (MB): A letter by a concerned citizen pertaining to encroachments on the pathway to the Dona Paula jetty has been converted by the Bombay High Court into a public interest litigation.
The Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising of Justice R M S Kandeparkar and Justice N A Britto have taken suo moto cognizance of the letter and issued notices to the respondents returnable on November 26.
The High Court has made City Corporation of Panaji, the tourism department, the government and the Taleigao panchayat as parties to the petition.
According to the letter dated October 10 by the concerned citizen, in spite of a compromise arrived at before the High Court in the year 1993, stall owners, hawkers continue to encroach on the pavements at the Dona Paula jetty thereby causing an inconvenience to the public and making it difficult for tourists to visit the place.
It is stated in the letter that in the year 1993 the Panjim municipal council had issued notices to the hawkers and stall owners occupying the jetty pursuant to the direction given by the tourism department.
Aggrieved by the said notice Mr Nazareth Cabral approached the High Court in a Writ Petition 498/1993 challenging the action of the authorities. However, the petition was disposed on, and an agreement arrived at, according to which alternate arrangements would be made for the stall owners and hawkers.
It is further stated that a sum of Rs 50 lakh was spent to make alternate arrangements at a place near the NIO junction. However, till date no such arrangement has been made by the concerned authorities and therefore the concerned citizen had approached the court.
It was also brought to the notice of the Court that a lot of garbage had accumulated due to the functioning of the stall owners and hawkers which has made the area prone to rat infections.
In the aforesaid letter it has also been alleged that food and drinks, without any license from the concerned authorities, are being served to the tourists.
According to the letter the stall owners and hawkers continue to occupy jetty due to the blessings of political parties and some police officers.