Team Herald
VASCO: The vice-chairperson of Mormugao Municipal Council Sashikant Parab came out in support of the families that recently got eviction notice from the MPT.
Parab on Monday asked the MPT to exclude the piece of land on which some odd 50-odd structures were built before the port trust had started its operations. He also said these structures were not newly built.
It may be recalled that on June 9, 2017, some 50-odd families from Mormugao Constituency received a rude shock after they were served eviction notice from the MPT in which the port had directed the residents to vacate their property with 90 days. The furious residents had claimed that their structures were built even before the MPT had stated its operations and hence had vowed that they would not vacate their houses under any circumstances.
Parab told the media these structures which are now facing eviction threat by the port authorities were built somewhere in 1936 and now the second/third generation families were residing in these houses which are built on the land now in the possession of port. “All these years MPT never issued any notices nor raised any objections in past, however, it is quite surprising that suddenly the port authorities woke up and are now asking the residents to vacate their premises within 90 days which is injustice and an inhuman act” he said.
He further added that the “MPT cannot suddenly ask the residents to vacate. These structures are reflecting on the survey plan, they pay house tax to the council and hence the council will support the residents as their case is genuine. Instead, I suggest the MPT should exclude the piece of land having these 50-odd structures and should then demarcate its property and fence the same,” Parab added.
“As now the council is helping the people, port authorities should get into a huddle and find an amicable solution as these residents are Goans and not outsiders. Also, as many of these affected residents have approached me. I along with the people would take up the issue before the Mormugao MLA Milind Naik who will surely take up the issue before state government so as to find an amicable solution as the case is genuine and justice should be meted out to these families” he concluded.
