A JCB demolishing a house illegally built on government land in Cunchelim-Mapusa.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MAPUSA
The remaining three houses which were illegally built on government land at Khadpawada in Cunchelim-Mapusa, were demolished by the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) on Friday.
Thirty-six houses were declared illegal as they were built on about 30,000 sq mtrs of land earmarked by the government for a multi-faith cemetery at Khadpawada in Cunchelim and 32 out of 36 illegal houses were demolished on November 12, while one house was demolished on January 2.
The High Court had directed the three remaining parties concerned to demolish the houses on their own. The three parties approached the Supreme Court, but they did not get any relief and their petition was rejected on Thursday.
The North Goa Authority had given the three families concerned till yesterday to vacate their homes. Accordingly, these house owners shifted their belongings elsewhere.
On Friday morning, the three houses were demolished under police protection. SDM Anant Malik, NGPDA officials, and Public Works Department officials were present to supervise the demolition drive.
Meanwhile, Mapusa police had registered a case against unknown persons on charges of defrauding the government and the house owners concerned by misappropriating government land and extorting a total of Rs 38.49 lakh. The police had arrested three persons, Ramesh Rao, Shakeel Sheikh and Ravi Chavan, in this connection.
