The hutments in Moti Dongor, Margao.
MARGAO
The issue of illegal constructions at Moti Dongor in Margao and the neighbouring Talsanzor hillock in Fatorda has resurfaced, following directions from the High Court in a Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) ordering the demolition of unauthorised structures on comunidade, government, and tenanted lands.
In 2013, the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades issued orders to demolish around 250 illegal structures on Aquem Comunidade land at Moti Dongor and Talsanzor. However, the residents had secured a stay from the High Court in the same month, halting the process.
With the recent High Court directive to raze down illegal constructions, discussions have intensified within both administrative and political circles over how the comunidade administrator and attorneys will implement the court's order.
These illegal constructions first came under the High Court’s scrutiny nearly 12 years ago, when affected inhabitants challenged the demolition order issued by the then Administrator, Sangeeta Naik, on August 5, 2013.
Aquem Comunidade Attorney Celestin Norohna stated that, despite the stay, the comunidade will initiate a fresh survey of the hillocks to identify any new structures that may have come up in the last decade. He also acknowledged that many of the original structures listed for demolition in 2013 might have been modified over the years.
In response to the High Court’s order, South Goa Administrator of Comunidades Ganesh Barve has circulated directives to all comunidade bodies, instructing attorneys to inspect illegal constructions and submit detailed reports within two weeks. The reports must include the names and addresses of encroachers, survey numbers, areas of encroachment, and the nature of the structures—whether residential or commercial.
Besides making a note of new structures, Attorney Celestin said he would make a mention in the proforma, of the number of structures against which an order for demolition was issued by the administrator and matters pending before the High Court since then.
The issue has taken a political turn since Margao MLA Digambar Kamat rejoined the BJP on September 14, 2022. Since then, there have been persistent reports of a government-led initiative to acquire Comunidade land at Moti Dongor to rehabilitate the migrant population residing there.
With the formation of a government-appointed panel to oversee the land acquisition and rehabilitation process, concerns are being raised over whether the State plans to shield the illegal structures by submitting an affidavit in the High Court, coupled with an undertaking to rehabilitate the encroachers.
