MAPUSA
Attempts to clear vegetation and carry out controversial “development” activity on the Baga hill has irked some Calangute locals, who have written to the local panchayat on the status of the hill which has been earmarked as private forest.
# Calangute locals have written to the local panchayat on the status of the hill which has been earmarked as private forest
# The locals have also requested the panchayat to immediately stop any development activity in the area
# PremanandDiukar, President of Calangute Constituency Forum said development work and clearing of trees and vegetation has once again resumed on top of the Baga hill to construct a 10-metre road as shown in the ODP 2025. At some places, the land has been levelled and a retaining wall has been destroyed,” said
# He said Survey no 267 and 270 has been identified as private forest and therefore no construction or development work can be permitted in the area
The locals have also requested the panchayat to immediately stop any development activity in the area.
A week back, some labourers were found clearing the vegetation around the road that was constructed in the area last year.
The Calangute Constituency Forum in a letter to the Calangutepanchayat has sought to know whether the work was being carried out by the panchayat and whether the requisite permissions have been acquired for the same.
“Development work and clearing of trees and vegetation has once again resumed on top of the Baga hill in Survey no 267, 270, 265 and 25 to construct a 10-metre road as shown in the ODP 2025. At some places, the land has been levelled and a retaining wall has been destroyed,” said PremanandDiukar, President of Calangute Constituency Forum
He said Survey no 267 and 270 has been identified as private forest and therefore no construction or development work can be permitted in the area.
It may be recalled large tracts of the forested hill was burnt and destroyed using heavy machinery in January last year in an attempt to construct a road in the area.
An offence for illegal cutting of 41 trees was also registered by the forest department last year.
Some locals along with a member of the Calangute Constituency Forum had also filed a Public Interest Litigation before the High Court against the illegal hill cutting.
“The panchayat in a sworn affidavit had informed the High Court that it is not constructing any road through the property bearing survey no 267/1 of Calangute,” Diukar said.
In his letter, he has urged the panchayat to immediately stop all development activity on the hill.
