Goemkarponn desk
SANGOLDA: Three persons were arrested for obstructing government officials on duty as a tense situation prevailed in Sangolda following the order of the Bench of Bombay High Court at Goa, the Administrator of Comunidades (North) began the demolition of 22 structures on Comunidade property in Sangolda on Friday.
The communidade has been asked to submit a compliance report by April 25.
Tensions soared in Sangolda as the demolition squad commenced the demolition of 22 illegal structures on communidade property.
The operation commenced following the dismissal of a petition by the High Court of Bombay at Goa on February 6, 2024. The petition, filed by owners of the disputed houses, sought extensions to stave off the impending demolition.
Amidst the chaos, residents expressed their frustration at the absence of political and official support, lamenting their status as mere pawns in the political game. “We are not vote banks,” remarked one resident. “We earn our livelihood honestly and deserve better treatment. Our houses should have been regularized, but we have received no government assistance.”
Voices of dissent echoed through the crowd, with residents asserting their demands for ownership agreements and legal recognition of their dwellings. “Only if our houses are legally recognized under our names will we consider voting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” declared a distressed resident.
The plight of the residents, predominantly lower-income families, resonated as they questioned the motives behind the demolition. “Why are they harassing us? Where will we go with our children?” lamented another resident, reflecting the desperation gripping the community.
As tensions reached a boiling point, ominous warnings emerged from the crowd. “Our people are prepared to defend their homes at any cost,” proclaimed a defiant voice. “If authorities proceed with the demolition, we will not hesitate to take drastic measures.”
The demolition order of the DC
The order of the High Court also directed the Executive Engineer, Work Division-XIII, PWD, Mapusa-Goa to provide necessary cooperation to the Deputy Collector and other agencies in effectively carrying out the demolition.
“Failing to comply with the said order, the departments concerned will have to face contempt proceedings says the order,” stated an order issued by Deputy Collector and SDM Bhagwant Karmali, who is also Incharge of the Demolition Squad, North Goa.
The deputy collector had granted the demolition squad to the Administrator of Comunidades North Zone, on Friday at 9.30 am onwards to demolish the 22 structures in Survey 81/1 of Sangolda.
It may be noted that the Administrator of Comunidades, North Zone, could not carry out the demolition of 22 houses located in Survey 81/1 of Sangolda on February 27 as the Demolition Squad did not report at the site.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa in an order dated February 6, 2024 had dismissed the petition of the owners of 22 houses seeking extensions, after noting that the applicants kept on applying for extensions and once the extensions were finally refused, they refuse to comply with their undertakings.
