MAPUSA
With North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) and the local Arpora-Nagoa panchayat washing their hands off, the question as to who is responsible for construction of the eight-metre wide road on Baga hill remains a mystery.
“We do not know who is constructing the road on the hill. We are going there today or tomorrow for inspection,” said Michael Lobo, Chairman of NGPDA, at a press conference on Friday.
The Calangute MLA, however, sought to allay fears over hill-cutting stating that NGPDA will never allow any hills to be cut.
He also reiterated that there were no cashew trees on the hill, as was mentioned by some villagers and that some vested interests were making wild allegations.
But a visit to the hill clearly showed that the place had cashew plantations and quite a number of such trees were set on fire to facilitate the construction of the road.
Lobo informed that around 55,000 square metres of land has been converted into settlement for the Comunidade of Calangute on the plateau of the Baga hill.
“We do not want to touch Comunidade land. Calangute Comunidade is free to make plots and approach the PDA for approvals. Let them give it to the Gaunkars,” he said.
“We have not touched the slopes of the hill, only the plateau has been converted to settlement,” he added.
He said that an aggrieved person was fighting a tenancy case with a claim in the Comunidade land which she has lost. “She came to me and demanded five-seven plots in the area, which I refused. So, that is why she is raising unnecessary questions now,” he said.
Fending probing queries, Lobo acknowledged that land developer, Anand Bose, owned a plot in the area but no NOC has been given to anyone. He also said the eight-metre road has been shown in the outline development plan.
Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Sakaram Naik, who was also present at the press briefing, toed the line of the local MLA said the panchayat was not aware whose handiwork it (road construction) was.
The sarpanch, however, agreed that the panchayat on December 2, 2018 unanimously passed a resolution to construct a road to the Jesus Centre on the hill proposed to be erected in survey number 253/2 belonging to the Calangute Comunidade.
Importantly, the resolution said the panchayat shall request the NGPDA to secure an NOC from all the intervening owners of the properties bearing survey nos 156/1, 267/1, 265/1, 265/2 and 253/2, through which the said proposed eight-metre road is required to be constructed.
“In case NOCs are not granted by the owners, the panchayat requires the NGPDA to acquire the said land for the purpose of constructing an eight-metre road as indicated in the ODP 2025 and approved by the NGPDA on November 30, 2018,” the resolution read.
