MAPUSA
An incident of illegal landfilling along the Mapusa River has ignited public outrage after a truck driver was caught dumping debris near the river on Sunday afternoon.
Local authorities swiftly responded, with Mapusa Police arresting the driver, Durgappa Chavan and seizing the truck involved.
The activity was initially flagged by former councillor Deepak Mhadeshri, who witnessed the truck unloading broken tiles at the river’s edge near the bypass road at Tar-Bastora.
“I noticed material being dumped at the edge of the Mapusa River. With water already stagnating in this area, such landfilling could have serious effects on surrounding regions,” Mhadeshri stated, calling on authorities to halt further dumping in the river.
According to Mhadeshri, the area had been fenced and partially filled with mud before, but recent actions suggest further encroachment into the river itself. Local MLA Carlos Ferreira of Aldona also visited the site to assess the situation.
Ferreira expressed concern over potential encroachment on government land and citing clear violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.
“Landfilling requires permission under Section 17A from the Town and Country Planning Department. If there is no permission, this dumping is illegal. Moreover, filling in the river is unacceptable, as it restricts water flow and can lead to flooding in other areas,” Ferreira explained.
He urged the public to remain vigilant about the impact of unauthorized landfilling in rivers and fields.
The MLA assured residents that he would engage with relevant authorities to pursue appropriate action.
The police have confirmed that the matter is under investigation, with steps being taken to address the issue and prevent similar incidents.
The arrest and vehicle seizure have heightened local awareness of unauthorized landfilling, as the community calls for stricter enforcement to protect the river and surrounding environment.
