Team Herald
ASSAGAO: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department on Tuesday conducted an inspection of the alleged illegal construction near Oxel Spring in Siolim, following directives from the Bombay High Court in Goa.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Local residents had raised concerns that the construction, situated in the catchment area of the spring, could lead to its destruction. The hydrologist appointed by petitioners SurajChodancar and Avertino Miranda supported these concerns.
However, a report from the Water Resources Department (WRD) contradicted these fears, stating there was no threat to the spring. Due to the conflicting reports, the High Court directed the state government to appoint a central hydrology body from Belagavi to assess the situation and verify the findings of both reports.
The petitioners had approached the court challenging the legality of a multi-dwelling complex under construction near the spring. During the inspection, the TCP Department found that the road leading to the site was only four to five metres wide, despite the required width being six metres. The Oxel village panchayat had also measured the road and found similar discrepancies, but no action was taken.
Speaking to the media, Miranda criticised the TCP Department for approving the multi-dwelling project without properly assessing the site. “We’ve been asking them from day one to measure the road, but they failed to do so. Now, after the High Court order, they are compelled to act,” he said.
The TCP’s findings will be submitted to the High Court for its next hearing on January 6.
