TEAM HERALD
VASCO/PANJIM: Unhappy over the removal of hutments at Baina beach in the middle of the monsoon to evict migrants, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education R V Deshpande on Wednesday asked the Goa government to provide rehabilitation to the displaced people.
Deshpande has even suggested that government land at Dabolim and Zuarinagar could be used to rehabilitate the displaced migrants, adding that the Karnataka government was willing to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation plan.
He was speaking to media persons after arriving at Dabolim from Bangalore along with a delegation to visit the demolition site at Baina beach.
Claiming that he was closely connected with Goa, Deshpande said, “My mother is from Goa and I and very much attached to Goa.”
“The Goa government should have rehabilitated the migrants before demolishing their huts, as small children and elderly people were staying in the huts at the time of demolition.”
“They have been staying here for last four decades and they pay house tax, have electricity and water connections, ration cards and even Aadhar cards. They are as good as Goans,” said Deshpande.
When asked if he had ever visited the huts to know their living conditions, Despande replied: “This is the first time that I have visited Baina and I am not aware of their living conditions.”
When told that all Baina huts were within the high tide zone and CRZ area and therefore illegal, Despande said, “I am aware of the issue and I have come to Goa to request the Goa government to rehabilitate the migrants at other government land at Dabolim and Zuarinagar and I will request the government to rehabilitate these migrants suitably.”
“Our only regret is that the Goa government demolished the huts during monsoon, instead of demolishing the huts in April or May. Many school-going children and elderly people are affected due to the untimely demolition,” he added.
Following his visit to Baina beach, Deshpande held a meeting with Parrikar on Wednesday evening in Porvorim, in the presence of Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat. He said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured him that the Goa government would come out with an amicable solution on the rehabilitation of those whose illegal huts which were demolished.
Speaking to media persons, Deshpande said that Chief Minister had told him that he did not consider the evicted as Kannadigas or people from Karnataka, but as Goans. “People who reside in Goa are Goans for him, and his steps were to ensure the safety of such people,” he said.
“Chief Minister has said that he would be conducting the survey of the area and wherever there are old cases, they would be rehabilitated. He has also said that the temporary rehabilitation would be provided till September,” he stated.
When asked about the threats issued by members of various Kannada organisations, led by the Kannada Organisations Action Committee (KOAC), Belgaum, which is protesting against the “eviction of Kannadigas in Goa”, Deshpande said. “I am not here with any political issue but am concerned about the human problem and so is the Goa Chief Minister. He considers them as Goans, so there is no question,” he said.
