Workers from the tourism department demolishing a restaurant at Ozrant-Vagator.
MAPUSA
The tourism department has begun the demolition of a restaurant at Ozrant beach in Vagator, after it was found to have encroached on government property.
Acting on an order of the Bombay High Court at Goa, workers engaged by the tourism department on Saturday morning started razing the structure.
The restaurant was found to have encroached on the property belonging to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
The high court issued an order on December 14, 2023 directing that all business in the restaurant be closed and instructions were given to the tourism department to remove the structure.
However, the business continued at the restaurant and a petition was later filed in connection with a contempt of court.
On January 15, the high court directed the tourism department to demolish the construction.
Acting on the orders, the tourism department began the task of demolishing the structure on Saturday.
“We have started the demolition of the restaurant as per the order of the bench as the owner of the restaurant had encroached on property belonging to the tourism department,” said an official of the tourism department.
