the goan I network
PANAJI
Residents of Pilerne have made several written complaints regarding the alleged illegal hill cutting in Marra, Pilerne and are now aggrieved that authorities have done nothing to put an end to these activities. On Friday, the frustrated and fed-up residents, who belong to Pilerne Citizens Forum, handed over another memorandum -- this time to the chief secretary, inspector general of police and the North Goa collector.
Residents have also made a request to the chief secretary and the North Goa collector to direct the law enforcement authority to stop the alleged illegal development and to all three -- inspector general of police being the third authority -- to take legal action against Porvorim police station PI Vishwesh Karpe, who residents allege are hand in glove with the goons cutting the hill.
In the memorandum, residents stated that PI Karpe was deliberately and knowingly disobeying the written direction of the government as the collector had passed a show cause notice cum stop work order through the PI on May 13. Even though the PI was instructed through this to keep strict vigil on the hill in Marra, residents have alleged that the PI has completely failed to stop the illegal development.
Pilerne Citizens Forum president Prakash Bandodkar alleged that the Porvorim PI didn’t send a single police personnel to keep an eye on the area and alleged that a big racket is going on. He also said that the authorities need to look out for a man named Derrick D’Souza, who had seemingly disappeared. It was to Derrick, and another man called John D’Souza to whom the collector had issued the order saying that if they don’t appear before TCP Bardez office by May 14, an FIR would be registered. Bandodkar claimed the FIR has been registered. The collector’s stop work order itself had stated that the cutting is in violation of Section 17 (A) of the TCP Act.
