17 houses razed in Vathadev to make way for new bypass

Team Herald 

BICHOLIM: Seventeen houses were demolished in Vathadev on Wednesday to make way for the new bypass from Walshi to Vathadev in Bicholim.

Earlier, there was a similar attempt to demolish the houses and the locals had resented the move then. Following the intervention of the Chief Minister the residents were given some months to relocate themselves.

On Wednesday when the authorities arrived at the site to demolish the houses, some residents were in for a rude shock. They claimed that they were residing in the area for the past several years and now the authorities are trying to demolish their houses.

“We were told to accept Rs four lakh and vacate the houses. We don’t have any other place to go and the government should have given us time before the demolition exercise” a resident said.

Why were the people not rehabilitated to some other place if the road was notified, questioned Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader from Mayem, Pravinkumar Sawant.

“The CM should intervene and try to rehabilitate these 17 families. For time being they can be shifted to some government quarters,” Sawant said.