VASCO
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and other officials conducted a site inspection of the Mini India Park project site at Quelossim on Thursday.
The Quelossim panchayat had called for the site inspection, following allegations of illegal activities at the site.
Others present at the site inspection were officials from Directorate of Settlement and Land Records, Town and Country Planning, Block Development Officer, Talathi, Quelossim Deputy Sarpanch Sebastiao Serrao and the panchayat secretary.
In a press note, Saldanha stated that no official from GCZMA and Goa State Biodiversity Board turned up for the site inspection.
Saldanha alleged that the project is illegal and does not have permissions.
“This fact is substantiated by documents from the Land Survey Department which state that the survey numbers concerned fall within the No Development Zone.”
“However, I have just come to know that 3-4 months later, the same officer from the Land Survey department issued another letter to the proponent stating that the said survey numbers are partly beyond NDZ. The question is, has the environment of the area undergone changes for the zoning to change,” asked Saldanha.
She added that GCZMA inspection reports clearly state that the vast wetland (khazan land) in the survey numbers concerned in Quelossim village located along the Zuari river is a NDZ. “The same report also speaks of illegalities such as filling up of low lying Khazan land, pumping out of water from the area by a high capacity pump, widening of Bundhs, blocking of sluice gates with dumped murrum/mud, resulting in stoppage of tidal water flow and interfering with circulation of riverine water to the khazan land leading to putrefaction, etc.”
“Also, the Investment Promotion Board has revoked its in-principle permission granted to set up an eco-recreational floating platform for Park/Mini India Park, with 5-star category resort, house boats, floating cottages and water sports activity,” said Saldanha.
Quelossim Deputy Sarpanch Sebastiao Serrao, who was quoted in the press note, said a similar site inspection had been earlier called by the Panchayat on June 7, “due to illegal activities at the site such as desilting/dredging at this site in spite of stop work notice.”
