TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: In a sudden development which caught even local panchayat authorities by surprise, Deputy Collector Naveen S L and Tiswadi mamlatdar Madhu Narvekar carried out a demolition-cum-eviction drive of several illegal extensions and moveable kiosks, in and around the world heritage sites at Old Goa, on Thursday.
The demolition drive was conducted on the orders of the North Goa collector.
The exact number of demolitions and moveable kiosks removed was not immediately available, even though sources put the combined number at around 49.
Though the drive began at around 11 am, the notice of the order reached the Old Goa panchayat office only at around 3.30 pm.
When contacted, Mamlatdar Narvekar asked Herald to seek details about the drive from the Old Goa panchayat secretary, giving an impression that the panchayat was behind the action.
However, Old Goa Panchayat Secretary Shirish Tari informed Herald that he got a telephonic call from the Collector’s office at around 11 am to remain present for the demolition-cum-eviction drive.
“The notice of the Collector’s order reached the panchayat only at 3.30 pm,” he added. “The panchayat had no role to play in the drive, which was carried out as per the Collector’s order.”
When asked whether any written notices were sent to the parties concerned, Tari replied: “The Collector had called all the kiosk owners a month ago and had asked them orally to shift their kiosks.”
“Due to this, the panchayat had sent a resolution to the Collector requesting that the affected kiosk owners be temporarily accommodated at some other place during the 45 days of the Exposition,” he said.
Surprised at the move, Old Goa sarpanch Prakash Amonkar expressed resentment that the affected parties were not given any notice before taking action.
