MAPUSA
Sending a strong message to illegal occupants, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) evicted a large group of migrants who had set base behind the new bus-stand in the commercial town of North Goa.
The migrants had encroached on the comunidade land and built huts in the open space behind the new KTC bus-stand. Most of the huts were built on concrete flooring.
The civic authorities conducted the eviction drive late Friday evening and also seized some material belonging to the migrants.
A JCB machine was used to remove the concrete flooring and clear the entire area from the hutments.
A civic official informed that the migrants were warned and told to move out of the place as they were occupying the land illegally for the last at least two years.
“We had received several complaints against these migrants. Apart from occupying the land illegally, these huts were erected below the High Tension power line which could be a threat to their lives. We have evicted them and asked them to go to their respective places,” said MMC Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar.
He said the local MLA and the entire council has given authorities a free hand to take action against such illegalities.
However, in the past such eviction attempts failed to create any impact on the migrants as, after a day or two, the whole group would return to the very same spot.
The MMC chief officer said this time, the municipal council will take adequate steps to ensure that these migrants don't return to the site.
“We will try our best to monitor the situation so that they don’t come back. I have stationed a Municipal Inspector at the spot to continuously maintain a vigil and to ensure that the hutments don’t make a comeback. We will keep monitoring the area,” he said.
Incidentally, the civic authorities also conducted a surprise inspection of the fast food stalls outside the Alankar theatre and warned the stall owners to follow the rules.
“We have found the stall owners have extended their stalls and encroached on the road. We have asked them to clear the encroached area or else we will seize their items,” Shirvoikar said.
MMC Vice Chairperson Viraj Phadke admitted that the migrants were similarly driven away in the past but they would return and set shop in the area.
“This time, we came with a JCB and a truck and seized all their items and even demolished the concrete platform they had erected and cleared the entire area,” Phadke said.
He said since the land belongs to the KTC and the municipal council has written to the KTC to fence the entire area so that nobody can encroach on the land again.
“We have also informed the police to monitor the area so that the migrants don’t make a comeback,” he said.
The migrants had encroached on the comunidade land and built huts in the open space behind the new KTC bus-stand. Most of the huts were built on concrete flooring.
The civic authorities conducted the eviction drive late Friday evening and also seized some material belonging to the migrants.
A JCB machine was used to remove the concrete flooring and clear the entire area from the hutments.
A civic official informed that the migrants were warned and told to move out of the place as they were occupying the land illegally for the last at least two years.
“We had received several complaints against these migrants. Apart from occupying the land illegally, these huts were erected below the High Tension power line which could be a threat to their lives. We have evicted them and asked them to go to their respective places,” said MMC Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar.
He said the local MLA and the entire council has given authorities a free hand to take action against such illegalities.
However, in the past such eviction attempts failed to create any impact on the migrants as, after a day or two, the whole group would return to the very same spot.
The MMC chief officer said this time, the municipal council will take adequate steps to ensure that these migrants don't return to the site.
“We will try our best to monitor the situation so that they don’t come back. I have stationed a Municipal Inspector at the spot to continuously maintain a vigil and to ensure that the hutments don’t make a comeback. We will keep monitoring the area,” he said.
Incidentally, the civic authorities also conducted a surprise inspection of the fast food stalls outside the Alankar theatre and warned the stall owners to follow the rules.
“We have found the stall owners have extended their stalls and encroached on the road. We have asked them to clear the encroached area or else we will seize their items,” Shirvoikar said.
MMC Vice Chairperson Viraj Phadke admitted that the migrants were similarly driven away in the past but they would return and set shop in the area.
“This time, we came with a JCB and a truck and seized all their items and even demolished the concrete platform they had erected and cleared the entire area,” Phadke said.
He said since the land belongs to the KTC and the municipal council has written to the KTC to fence the entire area so that nobody can encroach on the land again.
“We have also informed the police to monitor the area so that the migrants don’t make a comeback,” he said.
