the goan I network
CANACONA
Leader of Opposition Babu Kavlekar and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes intervened in defusing tension at Agonda, after demolition squads were sent to demolish illegal tourism structures on the coast.
Hours before tourism operators secured a court stay on the demolition of their beachside structures, the two leaders were involved in a series of meetings convened with tourism operators and officials since early Monday morning.
After the demolition squads averted direct confrontation with the agitating tourism operators who blocked the Agonda road by assembling near the Agonda panchayat office, Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes was the first to engage the officials in discussions.
GCZMA Expert Member Dr Prabhakar Shirodkar, Canacona Deputy Collector Sagun Velip and Mamlatdar Raghuraj Phaldessai were later joined by Leader of Opposition and Quepem MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar.
Goa Forward Party spokesperson Prashant Naik and Isidore Fernandes then had a closed-door meeting in the sarpancha’s cabin.
While hundreds of people waited outside the panchayat building, Fernandes later came out and told the waiting reporters, “We are not against the demolition orders and we will cooperate in all probability. However, it is for authorities to decide how to implement the NGT orders. We are with the authorities as well.”
When Deputy Collector Sagun Velip was asked if demolitions were being stopped, he replied: “We have come for the demolitions, but the decision will be taken by the additional collector.”
Added GCZMA Expert Member Dr Prabhakar Shirodkar: “We have been asked to conduct the demolitions, since the orders are there for the demolitions. It is, however, for the executing authorities to decide how they will implement it.”
Kavlekar declined to reveal what had transpired at the meeting, but said authorities were awaiting the arrival of the additional collector on the course of action regarding the demolitions.
