Immigrant workers, mostly from Karnataka and living along Baina beach in South Goa, were evicted from their houses by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) using police force on Tuesday.
Fifty-four “illegal” structures, including two temples, located on a private land in the vicinity of Basaveshwara temple in the port town were demolished.
Eyewitnesses said that the structures were brought down without making any alternative arrangements for the inhabitants, which rendered hundreds of people, including children, shelterless. They said that the immigrants had been living there for over 30 years. These demolitions have been done to make way for residential colonies being built by a contractor firm.
Many of those who lost homes were seen sitting near the site with no clue about where to go. Local councillor Murari Bandekar, who remained at the site along with the displaced families, told The Hindu on Tuesday that from humanitarian angle, this demolition was ruthless.
“Nearly 500 residents, including schoolchildren and old people, are on the street today and this could have been avoided if they were given some alternative shelter, at least, temporarily. Two temples have also been demolished,” said Mr. Bandekar. He said that he along with others will petition the Prime Minister to provide them some shelter.
Sankalp Amonkar, general secretary of Congress, Goa, called the demolitions illegal. He said that the hut owners had a right to individual hearing. Instead, he alleged, a common notice was issued and a common hearing was held for all by the Deputy Collector and the demolition order issued.
“When such illegal structure owners in other parts of the State are getting individual notices and proper hearing, why are these people not getting appropriate legal recourse? Is it because the government is backing the private builder?” asked Mr. Amonkar. The demolition was conducted with the help of staff from departments, including power, PWD and the police, by Agnelo Fernandes, Additional Collector, South Goa, who also holds charge of MMC. “As all individual cases were rejected, we decided to demolish these structures,” said Mr. Fernandes.
The MMC claimed that the demolition was done in accordance with the High Court order as well as the stay that was granted by the Deputy Collector, who had heard the cases and concluded that the occupants did not have any legal paper to prove their ownership over the private land.
