SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The farmers and locals of Chinchinim on Friday demanded that the government authorities restore the water bodies and agricultural land back to its original state with regard to the half constructed proposed bypass road at Chinchinim.
The locals have also welcomed the order pertaining to these matters, which has restrained the Public Works Department (PWD) Division VI, Water Resources Department (WRD) and others from undertaking any construction over the water bodies surveyed at Chinchinim until the respondents comply with what is set out in the circular issued by the Chief Town Planner.
Speaking to the media persons at the site, Terence D'Cunha, a farmer, said that this is not the problem of land itself, but beyond that. There is already an existing bypass road just 100 metres away from the proposed one. Besides, the scope of this road has been suddenly changed. And this is all because of the mega housing project.
He further alleged that the canal and water bodies have been destroyed due to the proposed bypass road.
Maclom D'Costa said that the water which has been accumulated due to the proposed bypass road is leading to major mosquito breeding ground.
"Actually the panchayat and the Health Department should have done the inspection over here but nothing has been done to date. Farmers were doing cultivation over here for the past many years,” he stated.
Remedious D’Cunha, another farmer also claimed that he used to do farming activities over here but the land filling and blockage made due to the road has resulted in major loss to the agricultural activities.
He further said that the water bodies had been destroyed by the government authorities in order to construct the proposed bypass road.
Remedious also welcomed the order given by the High Court and urged the government authorities to restore the agricultural land and water bodies back to its original form.
It may be noted that few days back the High Court had disposed of a miscellaneous civil application filed by Remedious D’Cunha of Chinchinim and five others. The court said that the TCP by circular dated May 17, 2010 has directed that no construction/development shall be allowed in the notified forest, private forest identified by the Karapurkar Committee and the Sawant Committee, sloppy land having gradient more than 25 percent, mangroves areas, water bodies and cultivated paddy fields.
The petitioners had sought direction commanding the respondents to stop the construction activities of proposed bypass road at Chinchinim and restoration of these lands/water bodies to their original condition.
