VASCO
After a series of partial demolitions of houses in the Airport Funnel Zone in the last few days, another locality in the port town also faces demolition, this time through another central body of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
Five houses in Bogda face demolition after the MPA has claimed ownership of the land, while residents in the area have demanded to be rehabilitated prior to any demolition in the area.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar rushed to the site and asked the MPA not to demolish any house until the government takes any decision on this issue.
“The MPA had come with all the staff and even JCB machines, but I have told them that no houses should be demolished as of now and stopped them from their plans of demolishing the houses. There are many houses that have gone in appeal against the demolition of houses in MPA,” said Amonkar.
“The MPA even tried to demolish a religious mandap, and I am not able to understand what the MPA wants to do in an area which has five houses and whether they will have some huge project in this land which does not even have a proper access road.”
“I could have supported if the land was to host a project, but I don’t understand what problems does MPA face in this area, and I also wonder if someone is trying to deliberately instigate MPA to demolish these houses,” said Amonkar.
The Mormugao MLA assured the people that he would never allow the demolition of any houses in the area.
“It will be my responsibility to safeguard the houses. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and he has also assured me that there will be no demolition. People in the area have demanded rehabilitation, and I have also asked the CM to rehabilitate the people if at all the demolition has to take place as the final option.”
The MLA accused MPA of harassing the people in Bogda.
“On the one side, the Navy has been harassing people and demolishing houses. In Bogda, the MPA has decided to demolish the houses that have been here for so many years. The MPA has suddenly claimed that land belongs to them, but they should have some thought on humanitarian grounds because almost every area seems to be claimed as their land, and they even obstruct development works,” said Amonkar.
“The MPA has obstructions at Baina beach, on temples, and even houses, but they must realize that they are making good business from this area and they must help the people of the area through CSR, but they are looking forward to demolition of houses. The residents have not even been served notices regarding the demolition, and I realized the issue on Friday,” said Amonkar.
