the goan I network
MAPUSA
The construction of around 300-metre road on the beach in Calangute has raised the shackles of locals, who have blamed the Calangute panchayat for playing mischief by constructing the road.
The villagers informed that the construction of the road at Saunthavaddo-Cobravaddo border at the end of the Tito’s lane began at least four to five days ago.
According to the locals, the road has been constructed with rubble and red mud which has been done to serve some vested interest.
The locals alerted the members of Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) who rushed to the site on Monday and discovered that the road was constructed without any permission.
“When we began inquiring into the incident, we found that there is no work order to construct the road. Since the area comes under the CRZ, permission from GCZMA was required too. It’s completely illegal and as per our information Calangute panchayat is undertaking the job,” said Premanand Divkar, President of CCF.
“Panchayat should stop destruction of our beautiful beach and focus on developing other basic infra that the village needs. The golden sand on the beach has been buried by the rubble and mud,” he added.
He further disclosed that CCF will approach GCZMA, collector and other authorities on the issue.
Interestingly, Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins washed his hands off and said that the panchayat was not constructing the road, but in fact, was trying to clear the area.
“The panchayat has not constructed any road. The JCB at the site was actually removing the mud and the rubble and some people must have thought that we are constructing a road,” Martins said.
“There was a huge garbage dump in the area and the panchayat cleared the area recently,” he added.
But on the ground, the reality was different.
There were clear indications that a road was being constructed in the area. “We will no spare all those who are involved in this act. If need be we will explore legal options,” Divkar said.
