VASCO: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed status quo to be maintained in respect to the demolition of structures at Katem Baina. The matter is now posted for hearing on May 3. 

Interestingly, the High Court relief comes when the South Goa administration was preparing to demolish 117 structures at Katem Baina to comply with the directions issued by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.

Terming 100-odd structures at Katem Baina as illegal and in violation of  CRZ notification 1991 and 2011, on April 13, 2017, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had issued demolition notice to 100 occupants from Katem Baina and had directed the residents  to demolish their illegal huts/structures erected on Baina beach and restore the land  to its original condition within 15 days time from the date of receipt of order.

Failing which, the Mormugao deputy collector was given direction to verify if these illegal structures had been demolished and remove them if they were still standing after the expiry of 15-day notice period. The deputy collector was also authorised to recover the expenses incurred from the parties concerned as the arrears of the land revenue.

Thus after receiving final demolition notice issued by the GZCMA, the residents in two different groups filed their petition before the High Court seeking relief from the demolition. On behalf of 52 affected fishermen, Advocate Devidas Pangam filed a petition before High Court on Tuesday. Similarly, on behalf of 25 affected residents Advocate Nigel Costa Frias moved a separate petition. Both these petitions were jointly heard on Wednesday.

During the hearing, Adv Pangam brought to the notice of the High Court that these fishermen have been living at Katem Baina shore since last so many decades, some even before liberation. He said that the State government was supposed to notify fishing villages which they failed under CRZ notification and hence relief to be given to the petitioners. 

Similar, arguments were advanced by Advocate Nigel Costa Frias and after hearing both the parties High Court directed status quo to be maintained in respect to the demolition of structures at Katem Baina and posted the matter for hearing on May 3.

Meanwhile, sources in the South Goa administration informed Herald that to comply with the directions given by GCZMA, the south Goa administration had started preparations to demolish structures at Katem Baina anytime after Friday.

Interestingly, during a meeting chaired by South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik at Ravindra Bhawan Baina on Wednesday, Naik reviewed the preparedness for demolition and a decision was taken to demolish the illegal houses at Katem Baina on Saturday (April 29).

“Yes it is true that, to comply with the directions issued by GCZMA, the authorities were preparing for demolition anytime after Friday. With regards to status quo by HC, I have also heard about the same but we have not yet received any copy of the order till now,” Naik said.