The North Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (NGPDA) demolition drive has evoked mixed response with people also knocking on the doors of the court against the drive.
The NGPDA began demolition drive last Thursday against illegal encroachments on the Major District Road from Candolim to Sinquerim.
According to officials, no structures would be disturbed and only encroachments on footpaths and parking spaces will be removed.
Last Sunday, uproarious scenes were witnessed at a gram sabha of Candolim panchayat after villagers raised apprehensions over the North Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (NGPDA) demolition drive.
NGPDA has cleared encroachments in roadside setbacks towards the Sinquerim-end for about 300m in Candolim.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, however, who was present at the meeting, assured villagers that the demolitions were only to enable parking along the road, and no shops or restaurants would be demolished.
Villagers were agitated that no notices or prior information had been sent to them about the demolitions.
However, for the first time the Candolim panchayat members and Sarpanch Sandra Fielho were also seen supporting the MLA and urging people to co-operate.
Speaking o Herald, Lobo said the NGPDA is only clearing encroachments on the roads and no structures are disturbed.
“This is a major district road and thousands of tourists pass from there during peak season and as such it creates traffic chaos as people have encroached on the road and there is no place for parking, forcing tourists to park haphazardly,” Lobo, who is also NGPDA chairman, said.
He said though the MDR is being shifted parallel to the fields this road will still be used by tourists.
“We will make proper facilities like notified parking for 2/4 wheelers besides drains, footpaths etc,” he says.
Lobo says the NGPDA will then hand over the area to the panchayat which will then decide to charge parking fees or give it free of cost.
“I am glad some people have come forward and given own land for widening,” he said.
On allegations that no notices were sent and he has personal interests in widening, Lobo said, “We have taken this step only after complaints by the people of Candolim.”
“We will only clear encroachments within 1.5 mts of road. Planned development is the need of the hour and the NGPDA is correcting all the mistakes made in the past,” he said adding “how can one justify parapets on parking areas. How were these buildings given licences?”
“As a local MLA I do not want to disturb anybody’s livelihood. We have followed every process and all formalities of removing encroachments on MDR road,” he said adding “There are some people trying to taken NGPDA to court but we are within our rights.”
However, former MLA Agnelo Fernandes said that he isn’t against development if done in a rightful manner.
“If you want to widen the road why not start from one end of village to other. Since the NGPDA has begun in the middle it looks like they have some interests,” he said.
Fernandes also questioned Lobo why was he depriving people of a rightful compensation.
“It looks like they are systematically targeting locals while big hotels are being left out,” he said.
“You cannot barge into anybody’s property and demolish it. This is called dadagiri,” he alleged adding “This is done only to facilitate a casino.”
While the former MLA has moved the court, Herald spoke to some locals who felt this was long overdue.
“The road-widening was long overdue. The situation during peak season is unbearable with tourists parking just about anywhere,” said Sebastian Coelho.
Another villager, who did not want to be named, said “the former MLA never bothered to look into the problems of the people and now when someone else is doing good work he cannot take it either.”
