the goan I network
PANAJI
After numerous written complaints to various authorities, Pilerne residents on Monday said that the alleged illegal cutting of the hills in the Marra area had finally stopped, much to the relief of the aggrieved locals.
Speaking to The Goan, one of the residents said that while the exact reason the goons had stopped the alleged illegal hill cutting was not known, but the residents were more than happy that it had stopped. However, residents are still keeping a 24x7 surveillance on the area and vow to continue doing so. The resident said that if there was any sign of the illegal activity continuing, the residents would take the matter straight to court, as they did not want to have any unpleasant confrontations with anyone, and would instead let the law take its course.
Last week, the residents of Pilerne made several written complaints regarding the alleged illegal hill cutting in Marra, but lamented that authorities had done nothing to put an end to the activity.
Last Friday, residents under the ‘Pilerne Citizens Forum’ had written to the chief secretary and North Goa collector, requesting them to direct the law enforcement authority to stop the alleged illegal development, and had written to the IGP to take legal action against Vishwesh Karpe, the PI of Porvorim police
station, whom residents allege were hand in glove with the goons cutting the hill.
Meanwhile, residents have urged the authorities 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 an order in May saying that if they didn’t appear before the TCP Bardez office by May 14, an FIR would be registered. The said FIR has been registered.
The stop-work order issued by the North Goa Collector itself had stated that the cutting of the hill was in violation of Section 17 (A) of TCP Act. The Marra area where the hills are being cut comes under the jurisdiction of Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar.
