A large number of illegal structures encroaching on the road widening area in Calangute were demolished by the Calangute Village Panchayat on Thursday under police protection. The demolitions started at around noon on the road widening area on the Calangute-Candolim main road near Jambleshwar temple. Panchayat secretary Arjun Velip said 23 structures were to be demolished. However, by evening four owners of the structures got stay orders. The action has been taken following directions from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, Velip said. “The High Court has given directions to all panchayats in Goa to identify the structures which are in the road widening area. Accordingly, the Calangute VP conducted a survey and identified the structures which are in the road widening area. Accordingly, a process has been started and we have started demolishing the structures. Today we took 23 structures, of which some managed to get a stay. If it's not possible to complete today, we will continue tomorrow,” Velip said. Agitated owners of the demolished shops said the VP demolition squad arrived without any warning. “The panchayat had told us that they would approach the High Court for relief, but now they've suddenly come and started demolishing,” one owner said. The panchayat secretary, however, stated that notices had been served. “The panchayat completed all procedures, all notices went to the owners and we started. The survey is going on and the demolitions will continue,” he said.