MAPUSA
The Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) has alleged that massive hill cutting has been taking place in Arpora-Nagoa and requested authorities to take appropriate action to stop the destruction of bio-diversity and natural cover in the village.
According to CCF President Premanand Diukar, illegal hill cutting was going on in Arpora-Nagoa village.
“The hill cutting and felling of trees has been undertaken to prepare an access road through the property. A similar activity in the adjacent property was stopped by the NGPDA two years back. It is the same developer which is carrying out this illegal hill cutting for further development of the area,” Diukar alleged.
He said competent authorities should intervene in the matter and stop the illegal hill cutting activity on top priority basis.
He further disclosed that a long concrete wall has been constructed hugging the sloping property along the road.
“Such concrete walls are not permissible and we do not know if the panchayat has granted license to the developer,” he said.
Diukar said that the CCF has taken up the issue in public interest as some villagers of Viegas-vaddo, Arpora had brought to their notice that illegal hill cutting was going on in the village.
He said people who engage in such illegal activities enjoy political patronage and CCF will take all steps to stop such illegalities, even if it has to approach the courts.
“The authorities should initiate immediate action against the developer and stop further destruction of the bio-diversity, environment and natural cover of the village,” he said.
