MAPUSA
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) on Tuesday partly demolished an illegal restaurant/shack on Vagator beach and later allowed the owner a period of five days to demolish the remaining part of the structure.
There were some tense moments in the morning when GTDC officials along with the demolition squad descended on the Vagator beach to carry out the demolition.
Initially, on special request, the restaurant owner, Keshav Palyekar, was given some time to remove valuables stored inside the restaurant.
In the meantime, he rushed to the court to bring a stay on the demolition but failed to get any relief. The owner’s advocate questioned the GTDC officials how they could demolish the structure without serving a show-cause notice to the owner.
GTDC officials stated that the structure was built in the property belonging to them and therefore sending a notice was not mandatory.
The owner also called up the local MLA and WRD Minister, Vinoda Paliencar, but GTDC officials refused to budge as they had an order for demolition.
Finally, after conducting partial demolition, GTDC officials on humanitarian grounds granted the owner five days to demolish the structure in entirety.
The owner gave a written undertaking that he would demolish the structure within five days and restore the land to its original condition.
Besides encroaching in the GTDC property, the structure was built in violation of the CRZ regulation within 100 metres of the High Tide Line.
GTDC General Manager Sachin Gore and Deputy General Manager Kapil Painguinkar were present at the site. Joint Mamlatdar, Sandip Gaude, was overseeing the law and order while Anjuna Police and the IRB provided security.
