TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Tension prevailed at Candolim beach on Wednesday morning, when the demolition squad of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) razed two shacks at Candolim.
Following angry protests from locals and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, the GTDC team was forced to retreat from the site without further demolition.
According to reports, trouble began when the GTDC demolition squad, led by Assistant Director of Tourism Ganesh Teli, reached the site and started razing the two shacks with the help of manual labour and cutters at Candolim.
A group of tourists, who were relaxing on the deck beds, were caught unawares and started fleeing from the site in panic. Other foreign tourists pleaded with the authorities not to demolish the shacks, on grounds that the season would come to an end in two months, but to no avail.
The presence of a large police force also added to the confusion and alarm among the shack owners and tourists.
The aggrieved shack owners then alerted MLA Lobo, who rushed to the site and had a heated discussion with the GTDC team over the demolition drive. The GTDC team was supposed to demolish three more shacks, but had to beat a hasty retreat due to opposition from the locals and Lobo.
A visibly upset Lobo demanded the presence of the tourism director to verify the illegalities prevailing on the coastal belt of Candolim. He also alleged that the tourism department was hell bent on harassing locals, while giving away the coastal belt to outsiders for tourism activities.
Speaking to media persons, Lobo said the tourism director had assured to visit the coastal belt to verify the illegalities, particularly shacks in the area.
“I am surprised that a GTDC demolition team arrived early morning and started razing the shacks of the locals without giving any notice.”
“It looks like there is a hidden agenda of the GTDC to wipe our locals engaged in tourism business and give it to outsiders. Additional shacks have been allotted to the locals, but the GTDC has not given permission as they insist on demolition and re-erection of shacks,” stated Lobo.
“It is ridiculous to demand removal and re-erection of the shacks at this point of time as the season is almost drawing to a close. If the GTDC is so keen in removing all illegal structures along the coast, then why are permanent structures of big sharks allowed on the beach? Why are only local Goans harassed, while the big sharks are allowed to carry out illegalities on the beach,” asked a livid Lobo.
When contacted, Tourism Director Ameya Abhayankar said the question of his visit to inspect the illegalities on the beach did not arise.
“We have been carrying out demolition of illegal structures on the beach based on court directives. The demolished shacks which were erected by the owners do not have a shack policy license. There are more illegal structures on the beach which too will be demolished. Nobody will be allowed to stop the demolitions, as we are merely following the court directives to remove illegal structures on the beach,” said Abhayankar.
