Exercise halted after protests; CM orders survey
A planned demolition exercise by the GCZMA at Cavelossim triggered uproar on Wednesday morning.
MARGAO
Cavelossim village witnessed an uproar on Wednesday after the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), accompanied by a demolition squad, came to raze a structure.
By evening, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is believed to have intervened by instructing the GCZMA to conduct a GIS survey of the house before proceeding with the demolition. The Chief Minister’s intervention came after Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz took up the matter with him following the uproar in the village.
As heated exchanges ensued between local residents and GCZMA officials, local panchayat member Jesus D’Costa said the entire exercise to carry out the demolition was being done to help Delhi builders.
When GCZMA officials produced the High Court order dated April 20, the Cavelossim Sarpanch, along with the ward member and local residents, contended that the court had directed the agency to first verify the construction before undertaking any demolition. “We are not objecting to the demolition. What we are demanding is that the GCZMA first carry out a GIS survey of the land in question,” Dixon said.
Ward member Jesus D’Costa pointed out that the house in question has existed at the site prior to 1991, adding that the entire operation is being organised to help Delhi builders.
