the goan I network
MAPUSA
Four months after The Goan reported the landfilling of an agricultural field in Bastora, former dy sarpanch Andrew D’Souza has threatened to move the High Court if the administration failed to take action against the illegal landfilling within seven days.
Writing to the Deputy Collector, D’Souza explained how in March this year, the water resources department dumped the mud excavated from the Mapusa river in the nearby field in Bastora on the direction of the NGT.
Relying to The Goan report, D’Souza disclosed how the owner of the field took advantage of the situation and flattened the mud in the field and planted coconut saplings in the agricultural land. “The owner carried out landfilling of the rice paddy field which is a low lying area. The area is an ecologically sensitive area which suffered flooding during the monsoons in July 2018,” said D’Souza.
He said this year, the flood was even more severe as the whole area including the village road was inundated during the intense rains experienced in the early part of August. He said landfilling cannot be allowed without permission under Section 17 A of the TCP Act.
He further said that under the Goa Land Revenue Code Amendment Act, 2018, the collector is empowered to restore the land to its original position when any landfilling is done in low lying areas. “It is surprising that no action has been taken till date and it seems the palms of the officials have been greased and therefore no action has been taken. All this, despite the glaring illegality, which has been done by using over 100 trucks,” D’Souza said in his letter.
He requested the authorities to initiate action within seven days of the receipt of notice of demand failing which he will be constrained to approach the High Court. Besides the Deputy Collector, the letter has also been addressed to the senior town planner, TCP department and member secretary of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.
Will direct talathi to file
checklist: Dy collector
MAPUSA: Bardez Deputy Collector Sudhir Kerkar said he was seized of the matter and assured to take necessary action soon.
Kerkar said the incident took place in March and since he has joined his present posting just a month ago, he has directed the complainant to produce a fresh written complaint. “After receiving a complaint in writing from the petitioner, I will ask the talathi to file a checklist of the agricultural land concerned and the owner,” Kerkar said.
The deputy collector said as per the information he has received, the irrigation department dumped the mud in the field and the owner appears to have taken advantage of the situation and planted coconut samplings there. He also said that he cannot issue a notice to the irrigation department as the property does not belong to the department as it was a private property.
