the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday began demolishing two-decade old encroachments at 44 shops on the nullah in the Mapusa Municipal market.
The MMC’s demolition drive of the encroachments on the nullah will continue over the next two days.
According to reports, WRD has begun repairs and cleanliness work of the nullah behind the municipal market, but faced obstacles in moving its machinery as the shops had encroached on the Nullah. The WRD then reported the matter to the MMC and the council inspected the area and confirmed that 44 of 46 shops had encroached on the nullah. The encroachments were allegedly existing for over two decades.
Later in November 2017, the MMC had issued a show-cause notice to these shop owners.
After the notice was issued, the MMC chief officer conducted a hearing with the shop owners and then issued a notice to demolish the encroachments.
When the shop owners failed to remove the encroachments, the MMC decided to initiate the demolition drive under police protection, to avoid any untoward incident.
The demolition drive caused panic among the shop owners, as many of them were busy shifting their items to safer places. Some even tried seeking the intervention of Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza, but failed to get any response.
The demolition drive is being conducted under the guidance of MMC engineer Vainkatesh Sawant, engineer Rajendra Sawant and MMC inspector Shekhar Gawas.
The government’s anti-encroachment team, mamlatdar and government officials also monitored the situation.
