TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted an interim stay on the demolition of illegal constructions at Moti Dongor.
In its interim order on Wednesday, the bench has also granted the state government two weeks time to submit its proposal on rehabilitation of the residents, who will be rendered homeless after the demolition.
The administrator of Comunidades, South began serving notices to the occupants of 373 illegal structures in Moti Dongor and Tolsanzor at Margao for demolition, on February 11.
Maula Balakatti, a resident, and 209 others then moved the High Court seeking a stay on the demolitions and prayed for a rehabilitation package if their houses are demolished as earlier announced by the government.
Many residents have been claiming that when the area was notified as a slum area in 1995, they were part of the notified area. Many claim that they are locals and that they would submit all the necessary documents to the administrator within the specified time as per the notice served to them.
Reacting to the court order Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told media, “We have no objection if the High Court stays it for two weeks,” since they had asked for two months stay.
“We were only following the High Court order,” the chief minister said. “I have not spoken to stakeholders… But there are good people staying there and criminal elements staying there too,” he said adding that they are spoiling the name of Moti Dongor.
