MARGAO
As politicians jostle to woo the 2500-odd strong vote bank atop the migrant inhabited Moti Dongor, the swords of Damocles continue to hang over the heads of the inhabitants over the last 12 years.
Consider this: On August 5, 2013, former South Goa Administrator of Communidades, Sangeeta Naik had ordered demolition of the illegal structures dotting the land owned by the Aquem Comunidade. By the same order, the inhabitants were told to restore the land to its original condition with a further direction to the parties to remove the structures within 10 days from the order.
The inhabitants led by Maula Belbattai preferred an appeal before the High Court and got a stay on the Comunidade Administrator’s order after they challenged the law under which the Administrator had passed the demolition order on August 5, 2013. Since then, the matter has been pending in the High Court for the last 12 years, with no sign of an early end to the case.
Aquem Comunidade Attorney Celestin Norohna said the matter had come in the High Court on January 6 last, but the case was adjourned after the Additional government advocate submitted that appropriate instructions will be taken within a period of two seeks on the matter.
Interestingly, the government had made a submission in the High Court on February 22, 2023 that the rehabilitation of the petitioners is pending consideration with the government, further submitting that some decision would be taken on the proposal if the matter is posted for hearing after some time.
