the goan I network
PONDA
Residents of Mangueshi and Mardol on Sunday evening thronged bypass road at Mangueshi, where development of plots is reportedly taking place on a hill and forcefully stopped the work of an access road.
The villagers have threatened to agitate if the government fails to take action against the developer.
It may be recalled that the locals had complained to all the authorities concerned and the Deputy Town Planner Ponda had ordered to verify the facts of development of plots taking place along the bypass road at Mangueshi in the jurisdiction of Veling-Priol-Cuncolim Panchayat. The locals allege that these plots are developed without any permission and the authorities have failed to act in the matter.
On Sunday evening, Sarpanch Damodar Naik, Adv Raju Mangueshkar, Ramkrishna Jalmi, Krishna Gaude and 200-odd people had gathered near the site and convened a meeting.
According to the locals, huge trees were cut down by the developer and have destroyed the beauty of the hill. They said many people have purchased plots in the area, which is behind petrol pump along the bypass road.
Speaking on the occasion, Adv Mangueshkar said they don’t know who is carrying out the work and government authorities are mum over the issue. “Presently, we have stopped the work and have asked the machine operators not to work here. We had complained to all the authorities, but nobody took action against this illegal work,” he said.
He appealed to the villagers to unite to protect the beauty of the village, which lies in hills and trees.
Sarpanch Damodar Naik said they have not given permission to carry out the work in the area and henceforth too they will not give permission if their documents are not clear.
Speaking to The Goan, Ramkrishna Jalmi of Mangueshi said: “Though the authorities know that the hill is cut for developing plots by violating all the laws in force, nobody is taking action against them. We will not keep quiet.”
He said the Deputy Town Planner had ordered to stop the controversial plot development, but so far nobody has taken action.
Fumed over the development taking place in their area, the locals set wooden logs on fire on the access road to the plots. Police rushed on the spot when they were informed about the matter.
When the police asked the agitating protestors whether they had taken permission to organise meeting in the area, they refused to reply and sought to know why they (police) never turned up in this area when the complaint of illegal development was lodged at the police station.
