VASCO: Occupants of 51 houses in Baina, will be facing demolition squads quashing their hutments, at the exact time when the District Court will be hearing their plea against demolitions and appeal that the High Court relief granted to 150 other structures, against demolition, should apply to them.
The order issued by south Goa collector to demolish structures that were illegally built on sand dunes at Baina has kept the residents of Baina guessing. The residents were unsure as to how many structures would be demolished by the state administration on Saturday. However it was orally told to these residents that out of 204 occupants, only 51 occupants of illegal structures at Baina who had approached the District Court would face demolition and this news left the residents in complete shock.
“There is an existing High Court order which has quashed and set aside the impugned order of demolition dated December 31, 2014 and final notices/order dated April, 10, 2015, passed by the Mormugao Mamlatdar. A talathi from Mormugao Mamlatdar office came and informed that they would demolish 51 structures occupied by people including mine. This has left all of us in complete shock as we were supposed to get light and electricity connections in a few days time again after two months but the administration wants to demolish our structures. If this happens then we would have to take some serious steps including committing mass suicide,” said Rajesh Nair of House No-7, Baina.
Like Rajesh, other residents who fought a ten-month battle to save their structures and even lived in the house without electricity and water connections (administration disconnected April15, 2015), are still hoping for rehabilitation before displacement. “We will not leave our house. When they come to demolish we will sit inside and rather die as we cannot go anywhere else in this rains,” said Jose Lime, house number 224/10, near Shafi Masjid Katem Baina.
“We feel that the whole demolition is politically motivated otherwise what is the hurry to displace us. If they had any intention to help poor people they should have waited for the rains to get over. Why did officials come and tell us to vacate with no written orders,” asked Vasant Saini, resident of house number D-22, Baina.
“There are pregnant ladies, school going children, elderly persons. How are people supposed to move under such circumstances? Already we have faced several sleepless nights and we can’t face more such hardships,” said Dilip Khobrekar, resident of Baina.
Meanwhile, the state administration has commenced preparation for the demolition drive. However, what was surprising was the way the officials of the state administration kept the entire move completely under wraps.
Why were the 51 left out?
u After notices had been served to 205 residents of Baina, residents had filed a common petition under the banner of Baina Resident’s Welfare Association
u At the same time few residents approached the District Court seeking relief
u When the matter was heard in the High Court the government advocate pointed out that 51 people have filed a petition in the District Court
u HC directed the petitioner to delete the names of 51 people who are part of the civil suit at the District Court
u Petitioner deleted these names and filed an affidavit before the court giving details of deleted names in the joint petition.
