Claims demolition was politically motivated
PORVORIM
The Porvorim Welfare Foundation (PWF) has condemned the demolition of the house of Gajanan Chari in the 20-point area by the Socorro Panchayat.
Addressing a news conference in Porvorim, PWF Chairman Vikas Prabhu Dessai stated that Nilesh Chari, son of Gajanan Chari, has been earning his livelihood for the last 32 years by selling milk and distributing newspapers.
“He had spent around Rs 30 lakh on the construction of his house, and most of the amount he has borrowed from the bank. He has now become homeless. The state government and the Socorro Panchayat could very well have saved his house,” said Prabhu Dessai.
“The harassment of Nilesh Chari started in 2023 when he was declared Porvorim Block Congress president. There was heavy political pressure on him not to join the Congress party, but he did not budge. This culminated in the demolition of his house. This is nothing but political revenge,” said Prabhu Dessai.
Nilesh Chari mentioned that he had approached the Panchayat to seek permission for the construction of an additional floor.
“I was told that I would have to prepare three files and submit them to the Panchayat, the Block Development Office in Mapusa, and the Collector’s Office. One Panch member told me that many house owners in the 20-point area have built upper floors without obtaining permission from the Panchayat. I was told that I could also go ahead with the construction of my upper floors and nothing would happen,” said Chari.
“Hence, I did not seek permission from the Panchayat. Around 90% of the houses in my area are unauthorised, and yet my house was singled out for demolition,” alleged Chari.
