Goa: Activist Shreha Dhargalkar helps poor family get land to build house at Verna

PANAJI: A poor family from Verna whose house was demolished, was helped by social activist Shreha Dhargalkar to get a plot of land from the Goa government to build a house.

While several persons promised to help after the plight of the poor woman who lost her house was circulated on social media, very few people actually came forward to do so.

In this situation, Shreha Dhargalkar took great pains and literally moved mountains, petitioning Revenue Minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate and Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant as well as the other authorities.

The family was rendered homeless after their alleged “illegal” house on Verna Comunidade land was demolished by the authorities. After a public hue and cry the government allotted a plot of land to them under the 20-point programme.

“The plot has been allotted to Remediana Castanha under the under the 20-point programme at Nagao,” Srineth Kothwale, Additional Collector-I, South Goa said.

A few months ago, an alleged “illegal” house constructed on the Verna Comunidade land was demolished after an order was issued by the court, Kothwale explained.

A political slugfest ensued over the issue, with politicians and social activists pointing fingers at each other for the demolition.

The demolition of the so-called illegal structure erected on land belonging to the Comunidade of Verna, under Survey No. 48/0, was carried out based on the final order in Case No. 1/37/Verna/2012-2013/455, dated August 21, 2012, passed by the Administrator of the Comunidade of the South Zone, Margao, Shreha said, adding that the plight of the poor woman moved her that she decided that she will not rest unless the woman gets justice.