the goan I network
VASCO
Uncertainty and anxiety have prevailed over some households in Baina after the Mamlatdar’s officials began marking houses near the sewerage treatment plant on Thursday and also informed the occupants that their houses could be demolished soon.
Sources claim that around 11 houses could face demolition, as per a notice from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). Speaking to the media on Friday, Mormugao Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar said he had also received information that few houses whose appeal had been rejected by the high court and who hadn’t approached the supreme court, could face demolition.
“Around 11 houses are likely to be demolished as per the notice that could be issued from the Dy Collector’s office. I appeal to the government and Mormugao MLA and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik not to do injustice to these households as they had been living in Baina for many years,” he said.
“While Urban Development Minister Milind Naik himself had applied for regularisation of his house, the BJP government is targeting the houses of people living in Baina. The houses should either be regularised or else, the occupants should be rehabilitated.”
Dy Collector Mahadev Arondekar said his department had received a letter from the GCZMA to clear houses which were in violation and had not appealed for a stay in court. “Accordingly, the Mamlatdar’s office was intimated to identify the structures, subsequent to which a demolition squad would be requested by the Mamlatdar’s office,” said Arondekar.
Stating that the demolition date was not yet finalised, Arondekar said there was a chance that the house owners could approach the supreme court for an interim stay to avoid demolition of their houses.
However, the affected residents claimed that though the houses were marked, no written notice was issued to them.
They also claimed that since a hearing on the stay on demolition was still going on and the next hearing in the case is scheduled on January 7, they were shocked to see Mamlatdar officials marking their houses for demolition.
Residents claimed that the houses were legally purchased and condemned the move of marking their houses for possible demolition.
