Excavator owners, locals, activists petition Prime Minister’s Office on illegal construction
The activists and members of the AGEOA at the funnel zone site on Thursday afternoon.
VASCO
Concerned citizens, along with activists and members of the All Goa Excavator Owners Association (AGEOA), have written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and other authorities, raising alarm over rampant construction activities in the funnel zone of Dabolim’s Goa International Airport. The citizens claim these activities are endangering both public safety and flight operations.
Speaking to the media on Thursday evening, AGEOA President Avinash Bhobe stated that despite multiple petitions and stop-work orders, the authorities seem to ignore their concerns and continue to support the ongoing construction led by a Delhi-based party.
“We have pointed out these illegalities on numerous occasions, written to authorities, and even got stop-work orders issued. But strangely, the project proponent meets with the authorities, and the stop-work orders are revoked,” Bhobe said.
“We have sent our concerns to the PMO, the Central Aviation Ministry, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with signatures from concerned citizens in the area. We have also copied the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, the South Goa Collector, and others.”
He further questioned the government’s serious lack of action, citing the recent Ahmedabad airport crash as an example of the dangers posed by such unauthorized construction. “Every time we raise our objections, authorities issue a stop-work order to placate us, but in reality, the number of machines on the site increases each time,” Bhobe noted.
“The government says construction is not allowed in the funnel zone, yet they do nothing when we point out illegal activities. We are now forced to take legal action. We will be filing a PIL because this is a matter of public safety, the safety of flights, and passengers.”
Sancoale Comunidade attorney Jayesh Fadte also voiced concerns over the land being used for construction. Fadte clarified that the land in question is Comunidade land, meant for agricultural purposes. He expressed frustration over the unauthorised road construction on this land and the aggressive use of machinery for construction activities.
“I will stop these works at all costs. We don’t even know how they made a road through our Comunidade land,” Fadte said.
“This land was meant for agriculture, but now we are seeing 8 JCBs and other machinery working here without any regard for authorities. I will take the issue to court from the Communidade side, and if necessary, I will make every official involved a party in the High Court case,” Fadte added.
Social activist John Filip Pereira also called on the government to intervene, warning of the serious risks posed by the ongoing construction near the airport’s funnel zone. “This is a funnel zone, and the airport landing strip is barely a few hundred meters away from the site,” Pereira said.
