Team Herald 

MAPUSA: Twelve houses located along the highway at Guirim were demolished on Wednesday to make way for widening of the road. 

Eleven houses were demolished partially, while one house belonging to one Dharmu Lotlikar was demolished fully as it was causing direct hindrance to movement of traffic near Guirim cross. 

The demolition was carried out under the supervision of Joint Mamlatdar Rahul Desai, PWD Engineers, Police personnel and Guirim Sarpanch Reema Naik. Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar was also present to supervise the demolition work.

Lotlikar alleged that his house was demolished without intimation. “We had received notice from PWD of the demolition, but not from the Deputy collector. We stay in this house. All our belongings were in the house when it was demolished,” he said. 

It is learnt that that the houses that were demolished partially on Wednesday were demarcated for total demolition and the affected families, besides getting compensation, would be rehabilitated in Guirim itself.

MLA Salgaonkar said, “I was at the demolition spot to supervise whether the demolition is being carried out as per the 1979 acquisition process or the new acquisition process. As per 1979 acquisition process, 11 houses will be demolished partially and as per new demolition process, houses will be demolished fully. However, we are not going to allow demolition of whole houses as per the new process since the affected families are not rehabilitated. Ex-chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had assured to rehabilitate the families before demolishing the houses.”

Meanwhile, the MLA alleged that the highway contractor has filled the river flowing through Guirim by violating CRZ norms. Salgaonkar warned that he would take legal action against the contractor.