Team Herald
VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has unanimously resolved to support the Khariwado residents whose houses are facing demolition. The case is pending before the High Court, and thus, MMC has decided not to intervene, but only to support the people, even if the HC orders the demolition of the allegedly illegal structures.
The decision was taken at a council meeting on Wednesday. Before the meeting could start, over 500 fisherfolk from Khariwado and Baina assembled near the MMC building with the aim of requesting the MMC to pass a resolution to save their structures from demolition. Looking at the huge crowd, Vasco police rushed to the site to prevent untoward incidents. Police closed the main entrance to the council’s administrative block, and only few members of the fishing community were allowed to attend the meeting.
During the meeting, all councillors slammed the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for allegedly blackmailing the people in name of expansion and resolved to stand united and find out ways to help the affected fisherfolk.
Councillors Krishna Salkar and Kritesh Gaunkar alleged that in name of expansion, the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) was trying to grab Khariwado beach, which is the only beach left for the people of Vasco.
Calling for regularisation of the houses, Councillor Lavina D’Souza claimed that the structures are not encroachments, as they had been built before the MPT started its operations. Councillors even suggested that the MMC initiate steps to declare Khariwado as a fishing village. After a lengthy discussion, Chairperson Deepak Naik informed that the MMC cannot officially pass a resolution to protect or regularise the structures as the matter is sub judice.
He also suggested that the councillors as well as other representatives of the people take up the issue with Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida to find a way to protect the houses.
“Firstly, MMC has no role in the demolition as it was only after the MPT filed a case before the court that we had to issue demolition orders following a court order. Even I feel that we need to help the people from Khariwado,” said Naik.
Finally, the MMC passed a resolution to stand with the people even if the High Court orders the demolition of their structures, and to even join them in protest, if required.
The meeting started with a discussion on various issues, including the pending electricity and water bills for the Sulabh toilets and municipal markets. The MMC resolved to write to the PWD minister requesting him to waive the interest on the bills, leaving the MMC to pay only the principal amount.
The MMC also resolved to acquire land of 180 square metres behind the Baina fish market for the construction of a bigger fish market.
The ongoing dredging work of MPT’s navigational channel and at Vollant by GSL was raised by the councillors, and it was decided to ask the Vasco MLA to intervene in the issue.
