21 Feb 2018 | 06:23am IST
16 of 20 illegal houses at Pedamol demolished under police protection
During the drive, it was revealed that most structures were used for storing scrap and some vehicles found inside had no number plates
MARGAO: The South Goa Comunidade on Tuesday demolished 16 of the 20 illegal houses at Pedamol, Shirvoi-Quepem under police protection.
Another 126 houses, which have been deemed as illegal, are set for demolition anytime as soon as the Government issues an order.
The demolition, which began at 10 am, was held in the presence of police personnel from Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona and Curchorem.
The South Goa Comunidade Administrator Paresh Faldesai supervised the entire demolition exercise in the presence of Quepem Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar.
As soon as the demolition squad entered the site, the migrants from Pedamol tried to stop the exercise by putting their school kids and women in front of the earthmoving machines.
The police immediately intervened and dispersed the crowd. The Mamlatdar too warned the residents to vacate their houses.
The demolition squad could manage to demolish seven illegal houses within half day. The first order against the 20 houses has been specific to the ones which had no electricity and water connections.
During the demolition, it was revealed most structures were used for storing scrap material and as the exercise continued, some vehicles inside these rooms had no number plates.
It is learnt that the residents, who had occupied the land at Pedamol land, were mostly from Moti Dongor, Margao.
Several businessmen from Margao too were seen at the site during the drive.
It is alleged that some years ago these people and some businessmen had purchased the land at a cheap rate from the attorney and his relatives. Since there were no papers, they built mortar houses without concrete slabs.
The South Goa Comunidade Administrator Paresh Faldesai said, "The houses demolished today were in the properties bearing Survey Nos 88/1 and 88/2 of the Shirvoi Communidade".
When asked whether there is a complaint regarding the plunder of the land by the Managing Committee or the Communidade Attorney, he said, "We have till now not received any complaint against the Attorney or the Managing Committee of the Shirvoi Communidade but we will take action once the complaint is registered".
