CANACONA: Continuing the demolition drive against the illegal structures on Agonda beach which had started on Wednesday, a total of 50 structures were razed to the ground till Thursday.
The order to demolish unauthorised structures and constructions of 47 tourism operators was issued by the South Goa District Magistrate.
On Wednesday, 20 such structures belonging to 12 operators were demolished and on Thursday another 30 were demolished.
Sources said that four persons got a stay order against demolition from a local court.
To thwart any resistance by the affected parties, the district administration on Wednesday and Thursday had deputed strong police force of over 200 police personnel drawn from Indian Reserve Battalion.
Most of the affected owners of these structures had already removed the structures and brought the land to its original condition stated.
All of the parties who are doing different types of business from providing accommodations to ancillary services were however annoyed as the district administration took too much time and has affected the NGT order when the current tourism season has already begun.
“Already a wrong signal has gone to the tourists who visit Agonda beach which has attained the distinction of being the best beach in Asia; this is not going to help us as we stare at a not so busy tourist season this year,” a local Pankaj Naikgaonkar said.
On Thursday, the demolition squad consisted of Canacona PI Tukaram Chavan assisted by PIs of most of the South Goa police stations, Quepem Deputy Collector Rohit Kadam who is holding additional charge as deputy Collector of Canacona, Canacona Mamlatdar Raghuraj Faldesai, Joint Mamlatdar, CRZ officials and secretary of Agonda panchayat.
A source close to the demolition drive stated that the demolition will continue until all of the structures listed for demolition are razed to the ground.
