TEAM HERALD
However, eight huts were not demolished as an affected person approached the High Court and obtained a stay on further demolition of the huts.
The operations on Friday were no different from the demolition of the infamous red-light area in Baina a little over a decade ago, as Furtado reached the site along with the disaster management team and four JCBs to demolish 66 huts that had come up within the high tide zone at Baina beach at about 9.30 am.
A huge police force, comprising teams from all three police stations of Mormugao sub-division and four platoons of Indian Reserve Police were also stationed to avert any law and order problem.
However, before the police, the disaster management team, IRB and JCBs could reached the site, about 50% of the migrants had already vacated their huts and had shifted to Zuari Nagar slums.
Using megaphones, the disaster management team appealed to the remaining migrants to vacate the huts and move to safety to avoid any mishap. The disaster management team also advised the migrants to shift their luggage in the buses parked nearby and move to the rehabilitation site identified by the authorities.
However, the migrants rejected the rehabilitation offer at the sports complex and FCI godowns at Cortalim and told the authorities that they were not animals to stay under a common shelter. They added that they had made their own temporary arrangements.
In the meantime, one Yemnappa approached the High Court and obtained a stay on further demolition of the huts, while heavy rains hampered the demolition drive.
Furtado said one Yemnappa obtained a stay from the High Court regarding the further demolition of huts.
“The High Court has directed us to maintain status quo. The next hearing is scheduled for July 16 and depending on the court’s judgement, the disaster management team and other officials will demolish the remaining huts.”
“The demolition squad has demolished about 95% of the huts and none of the migrants opted to stay in the rehabilitation centres arranged by the government,” he informed.
Furtado added that due to the status quo, the demolition squad could not finish the demolition of the remaining huts and a religious structure.
When sought to know when the government would demolish the remaining huts, that are also within the high tide zone, Furtado said the decision will be taken after the hearing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the displaced Baina residents called on GPCC President John Fernandes and other party functionaries, requesting them to find ways to rehabilitate them.
Fernandes assured the residents that he would ask Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to get some schemes from the Central government to rehabilitate the residents at the earliest.
“It was sad on part of the government to target these houses at this point of time during the monsoon, without proper rehabilitation process in place. The Congress Party has urged the chief minister to intervene in this matter with utmost priority,” stated Fernandes.
