Team Herald
VASCO: All arrangements have been made by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) to demolish 54 illegal structures located in the vicinity of Basaveshwara temple at
Baina on Tuesday. High Court granted stay to one Augusto Fernandes’ house.
It may be recalled that two weeks ago the Mormugao Municipal Council had fixed the demolition of 55 illegal structures on September 15, 2017, however, the same was later deferred at the last moment after Deputy Collector and In-charge Demolition squad, Margao, Uday Prabhu, pointed out to the MMC Chief Officer that about 22 applications by Baina residents seeking regularisation of illegal structures were pending before the state administration and hence the demolitions had to be kept in abeyance until the applications were disposed of.
Later, on September 18, Prabhu issued another order to the MMC and fixed the demolition on September 26. In the fresh order, Prabhu pointed out that the authorized officer has reported to him that all 22 applications for regularisation of illegal structures have been rejected and demolition order can be implemented.
Speaking to reporters, Additional collector -1 South Goa Agnelo Fernandes who is also holding additional charge of MMC said that elaborate arrangements have been made to take up demolition of 54 illegal structures at Baina on Tuesday.
“We have made all elaborate arrangements to take up demolition of 54 illegal structures at Baina under heavy police protection on Tuesday. The demolition has been scheduled in accordance to the High Court Order as well as the stay that was granted by the Deputy Collector who heard the cases and come to conclusion that the occupants of these 54 illegal structures do not have any documents or legal papers to prove their ownership over the private land on which these structures are existing. Since all individual cases have been rejected, we have decided to go in for the demolition of these structures on Tuesday for which we have requisitioned staff from various government departments, including power, PWD and the police etc” Fernandes said.
Photo by: Prasad Naik
Photo Caption: Seen in picture are 54 odd illegal houses at Baina slated for demolition on Tuesday
