THE GOAN NETWORK
PERNEM
Demolitions of 37 structures began at Morjim beach onMonday. According to reports, the NGT had issues orders in 2019 to demolishnearly 488 illegal constructions built on the shores of Morjim, Ashwem-Mandremand Keri-Tiracol which were violating CRZ laws.
On November 10, 2019, the action to demolish thesebuildings had begun but they were halted after some aggrieved partiesapproached the court.
Some others, however, removed the structures on their ownto prevent damage to their property.
The demolition work was subsequently stopped on November25, 2019, but resumed after nearly a year.
The demolitions began on Monday and the drive wassupervised by Pernem Deputy Collector Ravishankar Nipanikar, Mamlatdar AnantMalik and the joint mamlatdar, while a police force was present to maintain lawand order.
Pernem Mamledar Anant Malik said 37 illegal constructionsin Morjim panchayat area would be demolished.
Meanwhile, a number of aggrieved parties complained that the demolition drivebegan on Monday without any prior notice to them and they had hoped thatauthorities would have been lenient on account of the pandemic situation.
Morjim Deputy Sarpanch Amit Shetgaonkar said the State government should haverequested Centre to delay the action as many are suffering without jobs.
"Before demolition, authorities should have notifiedpanchayat or parties concerned about the action. Some had even taken a 5-yearspermit for their temporary shacks. Almost all of them have been without anylivelihood for five months due to the Covid pandemic,” said Shetgaonkar.
