SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
MAPUSA: A group of alert residents of Tuem village in Pernem taluka halted illegal hill-cutting and clearing of land which was underway near Don Bosco School, Tuem. The villagers said that unknown persons, taking advantage of the code of conduct in force, were carrying out the illegal activity.
When people reached the spot, they found that an earth mover was levelling the land while labourers were cutting trees. The locals were shocked to find that more than a hundred trees and shrubs on the site were cut down, and some were altogether uprooted. When they enquired with the labourers, they produced a NOC issued by the local panchayat for the construction of villas.
“Taking advantage of the model code of conduct, illegal hill cutting was being carried out. We have stopped the work in the presence of the police. The forest department has taken custody of the labourers and their equipment, while the Pernem police have seized the JCB,” said Uday Mandrekar, former deputy sarpanch. “We appeal to the TCP minister to intervene in this matter and stop such illegal development of forested areas. We also request the forest department to inspect the site,” Mandrekar added.
Frustrated with the lackadaisical attitude of the concerned officials, former sarpanch Ulhas Naik said, “Is the government going to act only after the villagers raise these issues? Why does the concerned department not have a flying squad to check on these activities, so the authorities can take action directly? Due to such activities, wild animals are now prowling around the village; a man was recently attacked by a leopard.”
The villagers have threatened to take to the streets if the authorities fail to take action against the culprits.
