PONDA: Thousands of commuters plying on Ponda-Panjim NH now fear for their lives from precarious boulders that keep rolling down the bare hills at the Connem Priol NH.
Illegal hill cutting in the areas has exposed boulders posing danger to motorists here.
It may be recalled that a major landslide occurred on July 7, causing mud, boulders, and trees to fall onto the highway. The vertical nature of the landslide poses a continued risk of further landslides. Erosion of soil at tree roots exacerbates the situation. Traffic was halted for hours after the landslide, leading to diversions through internal roads. With heavy rains exposing boulders, commuters are urging authorities to take action. Sandeep Naik highlighted the potential danger to bikers if loose boulders fall. Authorities must take precautions to prevent accidents on this busy route, stated Naik.
Social activist Sandeep Parkar from Khandepar has brought the attention to the dangerous hill cutting activities taking place at Connem Priol. He emphasized the vertical nature of the hills and highlighted the importance of protecting them, especially in light of the recent Wayanad Kerala incident. Given that Goa is located in the environmentally sensitive Western Ghats region, Parkar stressed the need for the government to take action against illegal hill-cutting practices.
Parkar urged the Goa government to address the complaints regarding illegal hill cutting that have been reported to the flying squad over the past years. He demanded that violators to be directed to restore the hills to ensure the safety of the public residing in the vicinity of these hills.
TCP official files plaint against illegal hill cutting at Priol
PONDA: Premananad N Akarkar, Planning Officer with the Town and Country Planning Department, Ponda, filed a complaint with the police against unknown accused regarding illegal hill cutting activities in Priol.
The official in his complaint stated that there was unauthorized hill cutting activities going on in Survey No 255/2 of Priol Village without obtaining prior written permission thereby violating the provisions of the TCP Act.
PSI Zaki Hussain of Mardol Police Station was investigating the case