TEAM HERALD
VASCO: South Goa Collector Venancio Furtado on Thursday evening conducted a high-level meeting with the officials involved in the evacuation of migrants staying in the huts within the high tide limit at Baina Beach on Friday.
Speaking to Herald, Furtado said he had briefed the police and other government officials of their role in evacuating the 74 families staying in the huts near the Baina Ravindra Bhavan.
Regarding the other 48 families staying in the huts near the Baina sewerage treatment plant, where soil erosion has taken place, Furtado said: “The Water Resources Department (WRD) has stabilised the sand erosion by placing sand bags and nets. The WRD has kept cement blocks ready and will be placed along the beach after the monsoon.”
When asked where the 74 migrant families would be rehabilitated, Furtado replied: “Some will be rehabilitated at the FCI godowns in Cortalim, while others will be accommodated at the Sports Complex in Bhute-Bhat, Baina.
“Each family will be provided one week’s basic food commodities, mats and blankets. This is a temporary rehabilitation and the migrants should try and make their own arrangements to stay in rented houses at their own cost,” said Furtado.
When brought to his notice that the sportsmen and other school children, who use the complex to play badminton and football, have objected to house the migrants in the sports complex, Furtado said: “My prime duty is to rehabilitate the migrants. It is a makeshift operation and the migrants will have to look for a rented place.”
Meanwhile, sources from Vasco Police said all the anti-social elements, including some political leaders, have been warned not to instigate the migrants and to create law and order situation, failing which strong legal action will be initiated against them.
