MARGAO
The planned demolition of the structures of Silver Sands Hotel, Colva by the South Goa Demolition Squad came a cropper after the PWD played truant on Thursday.
Agencies such as the Electricity, Water Supply and the police along with the Executive Magistrate, Colva Panchayat Secretary Amol Tilve all descended at the hotel on Thursday morning to carry out the demolition ordered by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
The presence of the strong posse of policemen in front of the hotel indicated that the men-in-uniform were prepared for any law and order situation.
The PWD, however, played truant. There was no sign of the PWD officials at the site nor men and machinery from the department. Senior PWD official, Executive Engineer Prasad Panandikar, however, later defended the PWD’s absence at the site where the demolition was scheduled to execute the demolition. He maintained that the PWD is ill-equipped to carry out demolition of a structure with 90 rooms spread across an area of 1,500 square metres.
While saying only a specialised agency will be in a position to raze down the imposing hotel structure, Panandikar said he had brought this fact to the notice of the Deputy Collector, Margao and Chairman of the Demolition Squad, Prasad Volvoikar a day ago.
He pointed out that his office is preparing the estimates to hire a specialised agency to execute the demolition work, virtually pushing the ball in the court of the Deputy Collector’s office for further action.
The PWD’s stand has only thrown up a moot question why the office of the Deputy Collector did not communicate this information to agencies such as the Police, Water Supply and Electricity if the PWD had informed beforehand about its inability to execute the demolition with JCB machinery.
Incidentally, the High Court had cleared all decks for the demolition of the hotel structures a little over a month ago on March 2, after dismissing a petition filed by the hotel owner.
Complainant cries foul over postponement of demolition
MARGAO: Complainant Judith Almeida, representing the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum has cried foul over the postponement of the demolition of the Silver Sands Hotel on Thursday.
She took strong exception to the blame game being played by the Deputy Collector’s office and the PWD over the issue of non-payment of money to the PWD for executing demolition operations. “All the departments were present for the demolition today. The PWD has not sent their team.
I checked with the PWD engineer. He says that three days ago he had informed the Dy Collector that they need a sanction of funds to hire the demolition equipment. They have not yet received the payments of earlier demolitions carried out. Why create a situation of blame game. My query is why should the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) not have its own demolition team,” she questioned.
