MARGAO
Goencho Avaaz on Saturday claimed that its investigations into the illegal Paroda hill cutting undertaken under the patronage of Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias has revealed a shocking cross connection between the MLAs and ministers, saying the collaboration extended to executing illegal activities and in threatening officials trying to put a stop to the illegalities.
Addressing the media, Goencho Avaaz convenor Capt Viriato Fernandes said the incident in question had taken place some time back when alert villagers had filed complaints with the flying squad alleging hill cutting at Paroda.
“We have seen how the complainant was beaten up by some women. That’s not all. They had the audacity to make the assault viral, displaying arrogance of power”, he said.
He added: “Fortunately, the report that has been received from the Collector’s office clearly brings out the massive hill cutting and nails the lies of the MLA who had denied the illegality. It was unfortunate, though not unexpected given the current abysmal law and order situation in the state, that the police refused to entertain the complaint against the assault by the MLA’s people. What came as a surprise, however was the revelation form reliable sources in the police department that a senior police officer was pressurizing the cops not to entertain the complaint, obviously under the influence of the Cuncolim MLA”.
Capt Viriato claimed the Panchayat secretary, who had lodged a complaint with the TCP over the hill cutting episode, was transferred under the express orders of the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho followed by the ouster of the Sarpanch in a no confidence motion.
“Such blatant destructions of the hills, agricultural fields, forest, rivers and heritage structures being blatantly carried out by the ruling BJP MLAs in connivance with the real estate lobby is a serious threat to the very survival of Goa and its people”, he said.
