Team Herald

MARGAO: The extensive coverage by Herald on the loot of Comunidade land in Pedamol, Quepem has paid off. The Deputy Collector of Quepem will on Tuesday demolish 20 illegal houses constructed on comunidade land at Pedamol following approval from the Government. 

The demolition of these 20 houses will be carried out from 9.30 am onwards and the Quepem Mamlatdar has been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order at the site. The Deputy Collector has informed that at least 146 houses face the axe as they have no legal backing whatsoever. 

It has been informed that the occupants of these houses which are going to be demolished on Tuesday have already been served prior notices to vacate the same. The people at Pedamol had reportedly urged the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar during his earlier visit to Curchorem to help them to save their houses. However, the Chief Minister had flatly refused to render any help to these illegal houses. 

Herald had exposed the land grab in the two survey numbers of Comunidade of Shirvoi where in around 100-150 houses came up out of nowhere. Following extensive news coverage by Herald, the local administration swung into action, sought reports and later started an inquiry into the matter under Land and Revenue Code. 

The impact of the Herald coverage led to Comunidade administration quickly hearing and disposing the encroachment cases. The comunidade has already been on record that they had no documents whatsoever to prove land ownership. Now, the houses will be demolished and the land will be restored to its original form.