Activist alleges promoter commenced work without approvals
the goan I network
CORTALIM
According to the local activist Lupino Xavier, three JCB machines were seen undertaking activity at the site.
“I called up Mormugao Deputy Collector and SDM Gaurish Sankhwalkar who told me that the promoter had got approval from the IPB. When I told him that the approval should also come from other departments, the SDM told me to click photos and to show him on Monday,” Xavier told The Goan.
“Thereafter, I called up South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik who said he would send his representative to the site but since nobody turned up I again called him up at 3 pm. When Naik asked me if his person had turned up, I said no and he again promised me to send someone but nothing happened,” Xavier added.
When The Goan called up Deputy Collector Sankhwalkar, he said he had told Xavier that the promoters had approval from the IPB. “So he has to take it up with the IPB if they (promoters) have no approvals from other departments,” Sankhwalkar told The Goan.
But when asked that the deputy collector is also an authority to conduct an inquiry under Land Revenue Code, the deputy Collector changed his stand saying that he had told the talathi to inspect the site and to stop the work.
“The talathi has already informed me that the work had been stopped.”
According to an official of the Investment Promotion Board, the in-principle approval does not in any way construe a licence to start the project. “All the licenses from all the departments concerned have to be obtained before commencing the work,” the official said and added that the project had the backing of a prominent minister from North Goa.
It may be recalled that the Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat had given provisional NOC for the project at its Thursday’s panchayat meeting.
Earlier, the project had failed to get approval from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority which had directed that the pontoon be removed and the site restored to its original state and a copy was marked to the authorities including the Mormugao Deputy Collector. While the pontoon was removed the reclamation was left untouched. Also the wood from the mangroves which were allegedly cut were attached by the Forest Department.
As the project did not find favour with the departments, the promoter apparently took the IPB route to get the sanction. The promoter of the project however could not be contacted for his comments.
‘Cortalim p’yat hall denied to hold meet’
CORTALIM: Alleging that he had requested the Cortalim Panchayat hall to hold a meeting, Quelossim activist Lupino Xavier said the panchayat had refused to grant the hall on the pretext that the panchayat has to pass a resolution to that effect.
“On September 15 meeting, the sarpanch refused to take it up at the meeting since that issue has to come up in the meeting agenda,” Xavier told The Goan although he said many events had taken place in the panchayat hall.
Another activist Paulo D’Souza from Sancoale said that he along with other citizens had approached the Quelossim parish priest for the Church hall, but the priest had refused on the ground that they do not allow political meetings in the hall.
“I tried to convince the priest that the meeting was only to make people aware about the project which is a local issue, but the priest refused to accept our suggestion,” D’Souza said.
