Massive portion of hill cut at Sodiem-Siolim
MAPUSA
A large portion of a hill with thick vegetation has been allegedly excavated by unknown landowners at Maina-vaddo in Sodiem-Siolim.
The violation came to light after locals in the area noticed the movement of heavy machinery in the dead of the night some days ago.
A JCB which was transported to the site started carrying out excavation and levelling of a hillock with a steep gradient until some locals made a noise and the work was halted.
According to a resident Joann Mascarenhas e D’Souza, the work at the property was going on for more than a week but intensified in the last couple of days.
“Some unidentified persons have undertaken rampant hill cutting in the area. Hundreds of trees have been felled and transported to an unknown place. No authority can issue permission to cut trees and shave off a hill with such a steep gradient,” D’Souza said.
She informed that Sarpanch Leo Dias along with a former sarpanch visited the site after being told about the illegal hill cutting.
She further informed that the sarpanch said he can take action only after she files a complaint against the hill cutting with the panchayat.
“The request of the sarpanch asking us to file a complaint is questionable. Can’t the panchayat suo motu take action against this illegality? There seems to be something amiss here,” D’Souza said.
In a complaint to the panchayat, the Chairman of the Bio-Diversity Committee, Peter De Souza said the gross hill cutting would lead to the destruction of biodiversity in the area.
He said the said spot in the village is rich in biodiversity and habitat for various birds and animals, migratory birds and even the leopard due to its thick green cover.
De Souza alleged that the illegal activity was happening in connivance with the panchayat and ward members.
“The panchayat secretary and the director of panchayats should take suo motu action against the illegalities and direct the concerned violators to respect the law of the land, failing which civil and criminal proceedings will be filed against the panchayat and the violators,” De Souza said in his complaint to the secretary of the panchayat.
Hill shaved, alleged structure coming up at Orda, Candolim
MAPUSA
A hill has been shaved and a massive construction which allegedly has no permissions is coming up at Orda in Candolim.
The construction has been allegedly carried out in blatant violation of the laws by undertaking hill cutting and without obtaining NOCs from the concerned departments.
The issue was first brought to light by Panaji-based activist Shailendra Velingkar who slammed the local panchayat and the authorities for failing to take action against the alleged illegal construction.
The Calangute Police later stopped the ongoing construction work at the spot.
Soon after Velingkar’s video of the construction on the hill at Orda, Candolim went viral on social media, the Candolim panchayat issued a stop-work order to the owner.
“It is brought to our notice that you are carrying out illegal construction of a structure in survey no 51/8D at Orda, Candolim. You are directed to stop the work immediately and remain present in this office along with documentary evidence, NOCs from concerned authorities failing which action as per the Goa Panchayat Raj Act shall be initiated against you,” said Blaize Fernandes, Candolim Sarpanch.
Interestingly, despite the stop-work notice issued on March 2, the work on the construction was going on, especially during the weekends.
Velingkar said the construction did not have any permission and despite the panchayat’s stop-work order, the construction works were going on unabated.
“Our Goans are made to run from pillar to post to get licences to build a residential house but this massive construction is coming up blatantly against the law by indulging in hill cutting, causing environmental destruction and without permissions. This can happen only because of a corrupt system,” Velingkar lashed out.
“This work has to be stopped within two days or else people of Orda and Candolim will rise and there will be a law and order situation here,” he warned.
Incidentally, the panchayat has scheduled a site inspection at 11.30 am of the particular controversial construction besides others on Saturday (March 19).
