PANJIM:  The issue of illegal filling of eco-sensitive khazan land behind the Heera petrol pump, near KTC bus stand at Patto, by unscrupulous elements has once again come to the fore. 

Goa Bachao Abhiyan, which has taken up the issue, met Chief Town Planner S T Puttaraju seeking clarity on the issue. 

“We met the Chief Town Planner (CTP), Puttaraju and he informed us that in the past too there was such a case and there is an FIR filed in the case of land filling,” Sabina Martins informed. 

Puttaraju assured the GBA that no permission from the TCP has been given for development of the mangrove dotted area. 

Even as the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is being dragged into the controversy, Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues clarified that the CCP is in no way indulging in any land filling and that the land where the CCP seeks to set up its garbage sorting centre is free from any encumbrances and therefore the question of undertaking any work did not arise.