Postponement of demolition at Colva triggers blame game

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Claims and counter claims rent the air as the demolition squad failed to turn up at Sernabatim-Colva on Tuesday for demolition of rooms of a hotel-cum-restaurant.
Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves claimed that the panchayat had requisitioned the services of the demolition squad through the Salcete Block Development Office to raze down a couple of rooms of a restaurant-cum-hotel at Sernabtim, but in vain. “The demolition squad failed to make its presence felt and the demolition stands postponed. We do not know the reasons behind the cancellation. Since the demolition was a High Court matter, we will submit a report to the High Court,” he said.
Outgoing chairman of the demolition squad, deputy Collector Surendra Naik, however, said the two teams of demolition squad were despatched to Canacona for a demolition today. “As far as Colva is concerned, we received the requisition from the Colva panchayat to fix the demolition today, but it was not considered since we had already fixed the Canacona demolition today,” Surendra told Herald.
He pointed out that the demolition squad has cleared around 20 requisitions made by various departments in the last few days. “There were many requests pending with the squad since the operation was suspended during the monsoons. We have already fixed dates for many a demolition operation till November,” he said.
Asked to comment on the delay in the demolition of a structure in Chandor village, Surendra said the matter was presently pending before the Additional Director of Panchayats. “We will commit contempt of court if the structure is demolished when the matter is pending. Hence, no decision was taken on the request for demolition,” he added.