TEAM HERALD
ANJUNA: The demolition of 30 temporary stalls witnessed tense moments at Anjuna on Monday, when aggrieved stall owners protested and tried to block the GTDC demolition team.
While the GTDC demolition team led by General Manager Sanjay Prabhu Chodnekar managed to raze 30 temporary stalls, 60 other structures could not be demolished due to protests from stall owners. Nine persons were later detained in this connection.
Trouble began when the GTDC team along with a JCB and police force went to demolish the temporary structures in GTDC property at Anjuna.
The stall owners quickly gathered at the site and confronted the demolition team. They were involved in heated arguments with Chodnekar and alleged that government’s decision to evict locals from the area was to benefit outsiders.
The locals also argued that they were not even informed or served any notice of demolition.
According to sources, confusion had prevailed as the GTDC had not renewed their temporary licences, while the Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat had renewed the licences.
Claiming that they have been involved in the trade at the existing GTDC plot for over two decades, the agitating locals alleged that the GTDC wanted to clear the area as the property had been reportedly leased to a party for commercial activities.
Speaking to media persons, Chodnekar said that they had demolished the illegal stalls in the property belonging to GTDC, while Bardez Joint Mamlatdar Isha Sawant said she was discharging her duties to maintain law and order in the area.
GTDC Asst General Manager Sachin Ghore and other officials were part of the demolition team, while PI Tushar Lotlikar and PSI Mahesh Kerkar provided police security to the demolition team. Anjuna-Caisua Deputy Sarpanch Savio Almeida was also present at the site.
Nine protestors were detained under Section 151 and were later released by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
