Mapusa civic body starts demolition drive to clear nullah encroachments

NT NETWORK

MAPUSA

Encroachments along the main nullah behind the Mapusa market which are causing hurdle in the work of de-silting and reconstruction of the nullah are being cleared by the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC). The civic body in the presence of police personnel on Wednesday started a three-day drive to clear encroachments done by 44 leaseholders over the nullah on the rear side of the municipal market.

The work of reconstruction of the nullah on the rear side of Mapusa market had started around seven years ago but the encroachments have become a cause of concern for the Water Resources Department (WRD) contractor who has been assigned the task of desilting and reconstructing the nullah.

WRD has completed major portion of work of reconstruction of nullah however a small stretch on rear side of Mapusa market is incomplete.

The contractor is unable to take machinery to undertake construction of the nullah as shopkeepers had encroached onto it reducing its width by around 1.5 metres. Hence WRD had approached MMC to clear the encroachments.

In this connection, Mapusa municipality has issued final notices to around 44 shopkeepers for demolition of encroachments.

On Wednesday morning, the demolition drive began from Mapusa Bazaar. Shopkeepers with the help of municipal staff began to vacate the encroached area and then labourers of demolition squad removed asphalt sheets.  Sources informed that initially MMC wanted to use JCB to carry out the demolition but there was apprehension raised that main structure could be damaged hence it was decided to do the work manually.

MMC chief officer Clen Madeira informed that the demolition drive will continue on April 26, and 27 and then WRD can start the nullah work.