Team Herald
MARGAO: Illegal commercial structures on Comunidade land at Mungul-Margao were demolished on Wednesday, bringing an end to a nearly two-decade-long issue. The demolition, carried out under the supervision of the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades, saw the participation of Margao Comunidade members and police
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
officials.
The structures, which included small businesses such as eateries and shops, had been operating without permission along the Mungul-Colva road. Margao Comunidade President Savio Correia described the demolition as the culmination of an effort spanning over a decade. “The process began around 2015, and a demolition order was passed in 2017. However, it took us eight years to get this order implemented. Today, we have finally succeeded,” he said, crediting the District Administration, particularly the South Goa Collector, Additional Collectors, and the Administrator of Comunidades, for their support. He also acknowledged the shareholders of Margao Comunidade for remaining steadfast on the issue.
Addressing the delay in executing the order, Correia blamed political interference. “Sadly, lawbreakers had the support of lawmakers. But as we have seen today, the law stands above all. Despite all pressures, we have carried out the demolition,” he asserted.
Margao Comunidade Attorney Celestino Noronha confirmed that the land belonged to the Comunidade and that the businesses had been operating illegally for the past 20 years. He expressed disappointment over the previous lack of administrative action despite the 2017 demolition order. However, he credited the current Administrator of Comunidades for taking decisive steps and noted that intervention from the South Goa District Collectorate had led to necessary directions being issued.
Additional District Collector Ganesh Barve explained that while the demolition order had been upheld by the Administrative Tribunal, its execution faced delays. Initially scheduled for Tuesday, the demolition was postponed to Wednesday due to technical reasons. He also noted that occupants were given time to remove their belongings before the structures were razed.
Shopkeepers claim they paid rent, believed shops were legal
MARGAO: Several shop owners cried foul over how the demolition was conducted, alleging that they were misled about the legality of their businesses.
Many claimed they had been paying rent—along with hefty deposits—to a businessman from Colva, under the assumption that he had obtained all necessary permissions. “We invested lakhs of rupees to set up our shops, believing everything was legal. No one told us otherwise,” said one of the affected shopkeepers. They also questioned how the authorities had sanctioned water and electricity connections if the structures were illegal and how the land—now being described as Comunidade property—was previously developed if it had once been paddy fields.
Shop owners also expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication regarding the demolition timeline. “We were initially told the demolition was scheduled for two days ago but was postponed. No one informed us about today’s action,” one vendor complained. A tea shop owner, who was at home when she heard about the demolition, said her shop was the first to be razed, with all her goods still inside. “They should have at least given me time to remove my belongings,” she lamented.
