Porvorim Demolition Of Illegal House In Socorro Resumes After Court Order
Porvorim in Goa has witnessed the renewed demolition of a two-storey house in the 20-point settlement of Socorro after years of legal back-and-forth. The process, which began nearly two years ago, is now being carried out in compliance with directives issued by the High Court of Bombay at Goa. The Socorro panchayat initially attempted to demolish the structure in October 2023. However, the move was interrupted after the district court issued a stay on the demolition later that same month. The panchayat then escalated the matter to the High Court, which, on November 12, 2024, ordered the demolition to proceed without further delay.
The house owner had earlier assured the court that he would carry out the demolition voluntarily but later stated that he lacked the necessary manpower to do so. He committed to vacating the premises by February 10, 2025, allowing local authorities to complete the demolition. The court had set March 15 as the final deadline for the work, with a compliance report due on March 21. Despite these commitments, the process stalled again.
By June 18, officials informed the court that the demolition had not moved forward due to the absence of key personnel required for the operation. In response, the High Court directed the Bardez Deputy Collector and the secretary of the Socorro panchayat to ensure that the demolition was completed by July 7. The court also instructed the Public Works Department, the electricity department, and local police to assist in the execution of the task.
Demolition work resumed on July 8 and continued through July 9. Local officials confirmed that the process is now on track and being carried out in accordance with court orders and safety norms. The action is part of an ongoing effort to address unauthorized structures within the region and uphold urban planning standards.
