Team Herald
MAPUSA: In a major drive against encroachers, as many as 25 houses were demolished at the Lala ki Basti, Tivim, which were illegally built on Comunidade land, on Tuesday morning.
The houses were razed following an order by the High Court of Bombay at Goa. The order was carried out by the Deputy Collector, Mapusa in the presence of police, and electricity department staff.
The place was earlier called Auchit Wado. Lala claimed that he is a tenant of 9,000 square metres of land, but he did not sell the plots. They have been sold by the Comunidade, he alleged
The Administrator of Comunidade (North), Pandurang Gad, had issued demolition notices to residents in February this year, asking them to vacate the premises. Most of the occupants complied with the notice and moved out before the demolition started. The settlement reportedly houses around 100 structures.
The demolition drive will continue until the area is fully cleared of unauthorised construction, informed Comunidade authorities.
In all 36 structures were built on the land and the matter was going in the Court for the last 15 years. After the Court order, the authorities had issued eviction and demolition notices in two phases, first to 12 houses and later to 13 houses directing them to vacate the premises.