VASCO: The notice to vacate the land owned by Mormugao Port authorities has come as a rude shock to all the 11 families which have been residing at jetty (Chalta Number 1, PT sheet number 30 of Vasco) in Mormugao constituency for the last several decades. The furious residents have claimed that their structures were built even before MPT started its operations and hence they would not vacate their houses in any circumstances.
A noticed, signed by the Chief Engineer of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), was served to at least 11 families who have been residing at Jetty in Headland Sada (near ammonia tank) in Mormugao. In its notice, MPT has said in November last year, the port authorities had had carried out inspection of their area and found that the plot has been illegally encroached upon and the land belongs to the Board of trustees of Port of Mormugao. Hence the residents have been asked to vacate the land within 90 days failing which, the port will take action, including eviction under the public premises (eviction of unauthorized occupants) act 1971.
Meanwhile, upset residents have claimed that they inherited these structures from their ancestors way back in 1936 (during Portuguese Rule) and much before the Mormugao port started their operations. They said the Port trust took over the property from government but failed to give any notice for the past 80 odd years.
“The house I live in was built by my late father who was employed with South Western Railway. Later, MPT began its operations. All these years, MPT never thought about this piece of land and now suddenly they want us to vacate the property and move elsewhere which is incorrect and inhuman. We have been paying house tax to the local municipal body for the last several decades and never thought that one day MPT will come and issue notices to us. This is a big shock to all of us. However, we have decided not to vacate the premises at any cost,” said Former MMC Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar who is one of the affected residents.
Another resident Premanand Chodankar said, “We are shocked and disappointed as the MPT suddenly woke up and issued us eviction notice. Though the land was taken over by the port, however these houses were built much before the port came into operations and during Portuguese Rule. We are not at all ready to leave the place as our emotions are attached to it. We are prepared to take all possible steps but will not vacate the land,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Satardekar who is one of the member of the Board of Trustee at MPT said, “Even I had received a call from one of the affected residents about MPT eviction notice. I will have to verify the same with the concerned official to answer as to why MPT has issued notices now and why not when they took over the land from the government. As far as I know, these houses were built several decades ago, these aren’t new constructions,” he told.
