One of the structures being demolished at Nerul. Captured by : Anil Shankhwalker
PORVORIM
The PWD on Wednesday demolished 31 structures built on government land at Nerul.
The collector had issued eviction notices in December 2024 to owners of structures located on either side of the road near the Nerul bridge, as the structures were causing a nuisance to motorists and pedestrians and were a hindrance to the smooth flow of traffic. The owners were given a 15-day deadline to vacate the premises.
A PWD official said the 10-metre wide road passing through Nerul is a major district road (MDR) and there are plans to widen this road.
“All owners of structures were advised about this one and a half years ago. In all, 33 structures were operating here on government land for the last 10 years. Any structure that comes within 15 metres of the centre of the road is treated as encroachment on government road,” said the official.
“The eviction notice was given to them in December 2024 and when the PWD had come here with a JCB for demolition in January 2025, there was opposition by the owners. They demanded some time and hence, the demolition was postponed,” said the PWD official.
On Wednesday, the PWD demolished 31 structures with the help of heavy machinery and in the presence of the Mamlatdar, PWD officials and a police team.
A fisherman claimed there is no separate fish market in Nerul and hence, locals had constructed a shed for fisherwomen to sit and sell fish. “This structure has also been demolished. Where will the fisherwomen now sit in the hot sun?” questioned the fisherman.
Nerul Sarpanch Rajesh Kalangutkar mentioned that he felt sorry that the structures were demolished as per a court order. “On Wednesday, 31 structures were demolished and the remaining structures will be demolished on Thursday,” said Kalangutkar.
