the goan I network
MAPUSA
Agitated locals censured the Calangute panchayat for failing to take action against a builder who was stealthily rummaging through the Boa Viage hill in the village.
Curious over the panchayat’s silence vis-Ã -vis the digging activity at the hill, locals at the Sunday gram sabha questioned the sarpanch whether he was with the people of the village or not.
“When we held a protest against illegal tree felling on the Boa Viage hill two months back, most Calangute panch members participated in the protest march and assured to take prompt action against the violators. But sadly, the action on ground doesn’t match your words,” said Premanand Divkar, adding, “If the panchayat cannot take action then let us know. The village will file a petition in the court for relief.”.
Raising the issue, former panch, Clotilda Braganza said a builder was surreptitiously and intermittently carrying out digging activity on the hill.
“The digging activity is carried for a few days and then stopped for a period of time apparently not to alert the locals of the activity,” Braganza said.
A nun of the St Alex Convent which is situated close to the hill informed the gram sabah that the digging activity was carried out in darkness and they could hear the movement of trucks at night.
Another gram sabha member, Agnel said that the owner of the land, one Nandan Kudchadkar was an influential person and advised the panchayat to do a panchanama of the area by preparing a detailed checklist of existing elements on the hill. “Nandan Kudchadkar is a powerful man. Police and forest department will do nothing because he will bribe them. Even ministers will side him,” Agnel said.
A local, Jose Braganza questioned the sarpanch why an FIR was not lodged against those responsible for destruction of the hill.
“The police have taken the gram sabha, villagers and the panchayat for a ride. You need to put pressure on authorities to take action,” said Joseph Sequiera, former sarpanch.
Sequeira said that when the issue of Boa Viage hill was raised in the previous gram sabha he had mentioned the name of Nandan Kudchadkar but in the minutes there was no mention of the name.
“Why has the panchayat failed to mention the name of Nandan Kudchadkar in the minutes? Are you trying to protect him?” Sequeira asked the sarpanch.
Plaint filed but no FIR yet: Sarpanch
MAPUSA: Calangute Sarpanch, Shawn Martins informed the gram sabha that a complaint was lodged with the police by the panchayat during the tree cutting incident at the Boa Viage hill last time. “It’s not that we have not done anything. We had filed a complaint against illegal tree cutting. I don’t know why the police has not lodged an FIR on the issue,” Martins said.
The sarpanch urged the locals to inform him about such illegal incidents so that the panchayat can take immediate action against the violators.
It may be recalled, when villagers organized a protest march against tree cutting on the hill on November 11, 2018, then acting sarpanch, Sudesh Mayenkar had promised to file FIR against the offenders within two days. “We will lodge an FIR against the accused within two days. We will keep political differences aside and work for the welfare of Calangute village,” Mayenkar had then assured the villagers.
Attorney of Calangute Communidade, Anthony D’Souza had also said that hills and fields belonged to the communidade and nobody could carry any development works on hills.
