Churchill demands immediate demolition of the Old Goa disputed property

MARGAO: Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, on Thursday, demanded demolition of an illegal structure at Heritage site in Old Goa, and sacking of all the officials of Town and Country Planning Department (TCP) immediately. 

Speaking to the media persons at his Varca office, he also asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not to do politics on the issue, as the party has no right to talk on the Old Goa project, when they are themselves involved in demolition of Little Flower Church in New Delhi. 

Churchill said there is enough evidence of illegalities and fraud, so the Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant should order to demolish the illegal structure at the protected site immediately. 

“First of all, the application for the construction license was done fraudulently. It is very much shocking and surprising those TCP officials, besides other authorities, had given the permissions without verifying the facts and documents,” said Alemao. 

Benaulim MLA further questioned that will TCP ever allow any common man to build a structure in such a manner like one in Old Goa? 

“The CM has the best opportunity to order the demolition of the illegal structure keeping in mind the feast of Saint Francis Xavier. I want the government to take strict action against all the officials of TCP involved in granting the license at the earliest,” demanded Alemao. 

According to him, just revoking the license won’t do justice to the heritage site, and the people protesting against the illegalities. 

MLA charged the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal of doing politics over the issue, by engaging in hunger strike at Old Goa. 

“Actually, the agitation was started by the people and all credit goes to them. Those people have the full right to protest and do hunger strikes. Few leaders of AAP are noticed at Old Goa going on a hunger strike, but they should keep in mind that their party chief is himself involved in the demolition of Church in Delhi,” said Alemao. 

He further suggested that AAP leaders should first do a hunger strike at Delhi and not in Goa.