A JCB was pressed into service to remove and dismantle the structures put up in the forestland of Anjuna Comunidade, while Anjuna Police provided security during the demolition operations.
Officials of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and other government officials were also present at the site to supervise the demolition.
The NGT passed the order to demolish the illegal structures on the forest and hilly land of Vagator-Anjuna belonging to Anjuna Comunidade, after villagers of Anjuna-Caisua approached the NGT to protect the land of Anjuna-Vagator. Repeated pleas by villagers met with little response from local and government officials.
Anjuna Comunidade had allegedly leased the forest land to set up a Saturday market, and many structures were put up on the forestland.
A temporary road was constructed on the forestland, while toilets, small rooms, huge plastic water tanks and other structures were also constructed at the site. All the illegal structures formed part of the Saturday market at Vagator.
The demolition squad, however, allowed the promoters of the Saturday market to remove the illegal structures, including water tanks, to save damage to property.
“We have basically executed the NGT order to remove the illegal structures in forest land.” North Deputy Collector Pundalik Khorjuekar told media persons at the site.
Raghunath Dhume, an official representing the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, said: “I have come to oversee the demolitions being carried out by the deputy collector of North following the demolition order by NGT.”
Bardez Mamlatdar Shama Arondekar, Bardez Joint Mamlatdar Isha Sawant, Talathi and other government officials were also present at the site.
The locals have expressed their happiness over the demolition and execution of the demolition order by the government authorities following the directives of NGT as their frequent complaints on illegalities to the local authorities failed to yield positive results.
