VASCO: The state administration on Saturday demolished 50 structures out of 51 (as per the list) that were illegally built on sand dunes at Baina beach. The demolition drive was planned and executed in less than 24 hours.
A total of 327 policemen, including six police Inspectors, one deputy SP, 19 PSIs, 1 ASI, 231 police constable, 51 lady police constable were deployed at the site to ensure law and order, additional district magistrate-1 L S R Pereira, who was in charge of the demolition drive, said.
Six teams were formed and each team was headed by a mamlatdar and within three hours all 50 structures had been raised down using two JCBs and 100 labourers. “We were taking due precaution to ensure that there is no damage to other adjoining structures at the site and the drive remained peaceful without any untoward incident” Pereira said.
Mormugao Deputy Collector and SDM Gaurish Sankhwalkar said the order was to demolish the structures not part of the petition filed by Baina Resident’s Welfare Association at the High Court of Bombay at Goa and of the 51 houses, 50 were demolished as one occupant managed to obtain a stay from the court.
Asked whether the state administration made arrangements for the displaced, Sankhwalkar said, “Till now no one has approached us seeking temporary relief or for food facilities and thus we have not given any assistance.”
The sudden demolition order issued by South Goa collector Sachin Shinde took officials involved in the demolition drive by surprise. Many officials that Herald spoke to at the site said they received intimation about the demolition only Friday night.
As the operation continued, no politicians made their presence at the site which upset the residents. “None of them turned up to even spend a few minutes. This makes us feel that these leaders are only using poor people like us and don’t want to share in out difficult times,” said a resident.
