VASCO: Mormugao Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gaurish Shankhwalkar claimed that all 117 structures at Katem-Baina facing demolition are unsafe and the occupants need to vacate the houses.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Shankhwalkar said that, along with Additional Collector South LSR Pereira, he inspected the site on Thursday night. “After visiting the site late Thursday night we noticed that four vacant structures got washed off due to rough sea conditions and erosion, while three other structures faced a similar danger. We immediately asked the residents to vacate as they were living in a risky situation,” he said
Shankhwalkar added, “Today (Friday) Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Dessai along with the Talati and other officials visited the site. In their inspection report it has been indicated that Katem-Baina beach stretch has witnessed massive soil erosion in the last few days and there is a threat to all other 117 structures. I have forwarded the report to the District Collector and I am hopeful that the District collector will declare Katem-Baina beach stretch a disaster prone zone.”
Asked whether the State administration would demolish the remaining structures before the completion of GCZMA final demolition notice period, he said, “It depends on the situation. If the Chairperson of South Goa Disaster Management Authority (SGDMA) declares the area as disaster prone zone under disaster act then the residents have to be vacated for their safety.
