TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: The Arpora-Nagoa Village Panchayat carried out the site inspection of the illegal hill cutting at Xavier Retreat House, Baga, on Monday; however, the ward panch Cleophas Fernandes was absent. Acting Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, Panchayat Secretary Rui Cardozo, Director of Xavier Retreat Centre, Fr Ronnie D’Souza and all the other panchas were present for the site inspection of the illegal hill cutting as directed by the deputy director of Panchayats, (North).
Seeking to clarify certain developments in the hill cutting episode, Fr D’Souza said, “I was disappointed not to see the ward member Cleophas Fernandes for the site inspection and I would have been more than happy if the deputy director of panchayats had to direct for site inspection of the retaining wall which has been weakened due to damage caused by the Water Resources Department contractors.”
Fr D’Souza further said, “I am really hurt with the comments of Joseph Sequeira who has stated that the village panchayat of Calangute wanted to amicably resolve the issue by approaching the WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, but is the Minister for WRD and Panchayats not aware of the happenings in his own department? Why are we to beg at their feet? We cannot compromise when someone does illegal things in our own backyard. When the hill was cut at the behest of local panch Cleophas Fernandes, we sought the support and co-operation of everyone but surprisingly, a few remained away instead of helping us in the hour of need.”
“I am happy that many people from near and far showed their concern for the Xavier Retreat Centre and extended us their support, even assembling at the site on March 27,” Fr D’Souza concluded.
