Margao: The South Goa district administration has ordered the demolition of 51 unauthorized hutments at Baina beach, which are out of the ambit of the High Court protection which set aside the demolition of 150 other hutments. These hutments will face the bulldozers on Saturday morning as the monsoon rains down and thunderstorms peal with all their fury.
The District Collector, South, Sachin Shinde, on Friday held a meeting of top government officials to chalk out plans and also to explain the role of various government departments in handling the demolition drive which is scheduled on Saturday, June 20.
With chances of law and order problems during the demolition drive, the district collector directed all government agencies, including the police, to remain alert and ensure that no untoward incident takes place at the site.
“Whereas, there is anticipation of major law and order during the demolition drive and in order to take all precautionary measures, the magistrates are to make arrangements to maintain law and order,” read the collector’s order.
Mormugao sub-divisional magistrate and deputy collector Gaurish Sankwalkar along with Additional District Magistrate and Collector -1 Roncan Pereira have been put in overall charge of the demolition drive.
The meeting was attended by additional collector, South-I, deputy collector (revenue), deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate of Mormugao, Margao and Quepem, the mamlatdar of Salcete, Quepem, Sanguem, Mormugao mamlatdar, joint mamlatdar -11 Mormugao, deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, deputy superintendent of police (traffic) South Goa, South Goa superintendent of police, South Goa deputy superintendent of police, police inspector of Vasco, and chief officer of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC). In addition officials from water resources department, MMC, Electricity Department, PWD, Fire And Emergency Services, water supply, health, law departments were present
The magistrates have been directed to report at 8 am at the control room camp situated at Ravindra Bhavan when the drive will start and to be in contact with Vasco deputy superintendent of police and Vasco police inspector during and till the demolition drive is completed.
The occupants of the hutments had been issued eviction notices by the office of the deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate. The additional collector stated that the south Goa SP had been asked to arrange for police force from Margao, Colva, Cuncolim, Maina Curtorim, Quepem, Sanguem and Mormugao for the demolition drive.
Meanwhile, a strong police posse was deployed at Baina on Friday evening with the Mormugao mamlatdar asked to camp at the site. The talathis attached to the Mormugao mamlatdar office have been asked to make announcements on megaphone throughout the day asking the occupants to vacate their huts and seek their cooperation in carrying out the demolitions on Saturday.
