PANJIM: Even as the issue of the Regional Plan and land use is being discussed and debated all over Goa, including in the Goa Legislative Assembly, there is massive illegal hill cutting underway in Calangute constituency to which the authorities have turned a blind eye.
Following complaints by locals, Herald inspected the site and found several trees had been cut on the slope in Naika Waddo, near a spring, at Survey No 41. However, no vehicle or machinery was around when Herald inspected the site and the remains of trees had also been shifted.
“This is a forested area and not many people come here since it is a secluded place. Taking advantage of this the developer has completed his job of hill cutting,” Save Calangute president Kundan Kerkar said. He added, “Those staying on that side are mainly migrant workers.”
Another local Godwin Fernandes said, “There is no board of any development but we suspect the hill cutting has been done for some huge residential project.”
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who is also chairman of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority, stated that no complaint has been received by NGPDA. “We will inspect the site tomorrow and stop the hill cutting and bring the land back to the original use,” he said.
Calangute Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira claimed ignorance over the illegal hill cutting. “I have no idea over the issue and neither anybody has approached us with a complaint,” he stated when contacted by Herald. He was quick to add that the panchayat will conduct an inspection of the site and take a call.
