Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz makes a point about the panchayat’s plans to move the NGT in connection with allegations of sand dune tampering in the village. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Cavelossim village panchayat has resolved to file a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking directions to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to inspect the site and conduct an inquiry into serious allegations of sand dune tampering on a property at Mobor.
Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz also urged Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas to place in the public domain the reports of inspections carried out by government agencies in respect of the property where local residents have raised allegations of sand dune tampering and destruction.
Addressing the media, the sarpanch demanded to know how the CRZ authorities had granted permission for development on a portion of the land that hosts a sand dune.
Giving details of the action taken by the panchayat in respect of the project, the sarpanch said the panchayat had issued two stop-work notices to the owner after local residents raised allegations against the project. “The project was inspected by government agencies, but the panchayat is yet to receive a report,” he said.
In response to a question, Vaz said the panchayat had resolved to approach the NGT since it had no faith in the CRZ authorities. “The whole issue falls within the domain of the CRZ authorities and not the panchayat. We have still not received the reports of the inspections carried out by government agencies. Let the NGT take cognisance of our petition and direct the CRZ authorities to conduct an inquiry and initiate necessary action,” he said.
