MARGAO
Officials of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) were seen atop the picturesque Monte Hill after early morning joggers raised many an eyebrow over the disappearance of vegetation and shrubs from a plot of land falling in a no-development zone.
PDA official Paul Carvalho told The Goan after inspecting the plot that he had come to verify whether any vegetation has been cleared.
“It appears the plot has been cleared of vegetation and shrubs. The trees in the plot are intact,” Paul said, who inspected the plot on Wednesday evening following instructions from SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar.
“I have no idea why the vegetation has been cleared from the plot owned by a private party. Once I go back to the office on Thursday, we will find out the name of the land owner,” Paul said.
Early morning joggers atop the Monte Hill road passing around the heritage area, comprising the Chapel and the TB sanatorium, found to their surprise that the plot had been cleared of vegetation.
The clearing of the vegetation has raised many an eyebrow as it has come at a time when the SGPDA had set in motion the process to put in a place a new Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao.
It is not out of place to mention here that requests to change the zone of the stretch of the area adjoining the road along the heritage area had flooded the SGPDA in the past every time the planning authority had set in motion the process of prepare a new ODP for the city.
