Commercial establishments on Margao comunidade land at Mungul escape the axe as PWD plays truant

The business establishments located on the roadside at Mungul escaped the axe on Tuesday after the PWD officials played truant. Margao comunidade attorney Celestin Noronha discussing the matter with police deployed for the demolition.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar


MARGAO
The structures playing host to commercial establishments on the Margao-Colva roadside at Mungul escaped the axe on Tuesday after the Public Works Department (PWD) played truant, scuttling the planned demolition of the establishments on comunidade land belonging to the Margao comunidade.

While the Police, officials of the Electricity department and PWD, water supply, besides South Goa Comunidade officials were present on the ground in strength in response to the order issued by the South Goa demolition squad headed by Margao Deputy Collector, Ramesh Gaonkar, PWD officials were conspicuous by their absence.

The demolition squad had directed PWD officials to provide demolition squad consisting of 20 labourers along with tools/ equipment and suitable machines like bulldozer and JCB, truck on the above scheduled date and time for the purpose of demolition. However, neither the PWD officials nor the trucks and machinery turned up at Mungul for the demolition, leaving no option than to postpone the demolition operation.

Margao Comunidade Attorney Celestin Noronha made an attempt to rope in private JCBs to carry out the demolition, but in vain. Given the situation, all eyes are now focussed on the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades, who is believed to have arranged the demolition on Wednesday.

Incidentally, the demolition squad, South Goa had initially fixed the demolition of the commercial establishments on January 10 last. However, the PWD officials conveyed to the demolition squad there is no agency to provide demolition squad along with JCB, tools, trucks and required machinery under their office.

The demolition squad, chairman, Deputy Collector, Ramesh Gaonkar, however, issued an order fixing an order for the demolition on February 11 at 10 am. But, the PWD played truant, scuttling the demolition order.

In response to the order issued by the demolition squad, officials of the Electricity and PWD, water supply, disconnected the power and water connection of the establishments. But, the demolition could not take place for want of men and machinery.

Incidentally, a party along with his lawyer served a copy of an order issued by the Salcete Mamlatdar Vimod Dalal restraining the Administrator of Comunidade from initiating action. Margao Comunidade Attorney Celestin Noronha, however, insisted that the Salcete Mamlatdar’s restraint order is not applicable for the demolition operation simply because the issue at hand is construction activity on tenanted land and not a tenancy issue. “We have come here not to address any tenancy issue, but to clear the structures that have come up on the tenanted land,” Noronha said.

Meanwhile, Margao Comunidade President Savio Correia said while the District Administration is fully cooperating with the Comunidade in carrying out the demolition, the process is being unduly delayed due to persistent political interference aimed at shielding the offender. “The individual in question has unlawfully filled fertile agricultural land, erected unauthorised commercial structures, and initiated large-scale commercial activities in blatant violation of all laws. Despite the demolition order having been issued in 2017 and due process having been followed, external pressures continue to obstruct its implementation and undermine the comunidade’s efforts to uphold the rule of law,” Correia added.