Karwar: Yuva Brigade leader Chakravarthy Sulibele on Friday met Kannadigas in Goa’s Baina beach area whose hutments were destroyed in a demolition drive by the Madagaon civic authorities on September 26. Sulibele met the homeless Kannadigas and assured efforts to relocate them after speaking to Goa CM Manohar Parikkar.
Speaking to media persons, Sulibele said, “We will start a signature campaign in this regard across the state to provide shelter to thousands of Kannadigas living in this area for the last 40 years. Goa government which promised shelter to Kannadigas has failed miserably and has been continuing with the demolition drive citing encroachment.”
In a sudden development which took the residents by surprise, the authorities demolished 55 hutments belonging to the Kannadigas along with two temples in the Baina Beach area under Vasco limits of Goa on September 26. It was on the instructions of the Goa government, the Madagaon civic authorities carried out the eviction drive to demolish the temporary shelters of families belonging to Kannadigas using heavy earth moving machinery like JCB machines.
One of the Kannadigas, who lost his humble abode said, “We built a Basavanna temple here and we have been celebrating Basavanna Utsav. But the authorities have demolished the temple hurting our sentiments. We need justice.”
The Kanndiga families have been residing in the area for over 40 years. Previous governments had regularized their stay by issuing ration card, house numbers etc. It had also provided them water and power connections along with necessary documents. In the operations which lasted till this noon, 55 hutments and 2 temples belonging to Kannadigas were demolished. About 250 police personnel were deployed for the demolition drive along with 8 police inspectors and 1 DSP cadre officer. Each team was split into groups consisting of 45 police personnel including women personnel. Seven JCBs were employed during the eviction drive.
Over 800 families have been evicted since 2004 with no efforts to rehabilitate them. The response from Karnataka state government too has been lukewarm considering the plight of displaced families.
Politicos in the state used the vulnerable Kannadigas living in Baina beach area only to garner votes during elections, allege few residents in the area. After providing voter identity cards, they were assured of permanent shelters during every election only to be left high and dry thereafter, rue a majority of Kannadigas at the receiving end.
