Officials halt unauthorised road work at Agonda

the goan I networkrCANACONArrAccording to sources, some fishermen community members had taken up construction of a road to the shore, passing through their residential locality, where fishing activities are undertaken during fishing season. r“The need to construct this road with contributions from our community members was felt necessary as the existing pathway is now blocked after land was filled during construction work undertaken in the area,” informed a resident. rCanacona Deputy Collector Kedar Naik, Mamlatdar Ramesh Gaonkar, Joint Mamlatdar Dattaraj Gauns Desai, Forest officers RFO Pranay Naik, DCF Kalangutkar, besides Canacona Police rushed to the spot and ordered stoppage of the the ongoing landfilling work to create a road through khazan land on the river banks of Agonda river. rThe officials ordered seizure of all the equipment including an excavator, engaged in land-filling and cutting of mangroves at the site. rThe officials were heard questioning some workers present at the site as to whether permissions were obtained to cut mangroves and fill the river bank and Khazan land. rSome fishermen community members who pleaded with the authorities to allow them continue with the construction of the road fell on deaf ears, as officials took a strong view of CRZ violations. rOfficials who were present took a note of mangroves that were cut, besides the filling of khazan land on the shore side of an existing pedestrian bridge between Parvem and Dhawalkhazan in Agonda village.