Team Herald
VASCO: The Mormugao mamlatdar, municipal officials, and police visited Baina beach on Tuesday after learning that residents of the recently-demolished shanties were pitching tents in the area. While the families reiterated that they do not have alternate quarters, the mamlatdar has given them until Wednesday noon to remove the tents, failing which they would be removed by force.
According to information, around 25 families have pitched tents at the demolition site as they have not yet found another place to stay. Noting their presence even after the demolition, the taluka administration, municipal labourers and police visited the demolition site at 3.30 pm. The labourers were instructed to remove the tents, but the angry tent-dwellers obstructed them.
A large number of women also confronted the officials. They demanded accommodation and even pleaded with Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai to give them more time to move out of the area
“You give us place and we will move on. The locals who are renting their premises have doubled their rent rates and advance, which is beyond our reach,” said a tent-dweller.
Another one added, “My husband cannot go out to earn, two of my children are sick, and the other two have not gone to school as we do not have shelter. The government is taking credit for removing people who are already living under the sky, which is unfair and inhuman.”
After hearing their grievances and making unsuccessful attempts to convince the residents to remove their tents, Desai gave them until Wednesday noon to remove the tents..
Meanwhile, the displaced residents of the 157 demolished structures made yet another appeal to the State administration for accommodation. They requested that they be allowed to occupy the vacant flats at GRB colony at Headland Sada until they find another place.
“We are even ready to pay rent to the government if it shows mercy to people like us, who clean gutters and collect garbage for very little money,” said Rajesh Nair, a displaced resident.
