CORTALIM: Taking umbrage over the flagrant violation of CRZ at Quelossim, Cortalim MLA and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha has directed immediate stoppage of the work.
Saldanha who along with GCZMA Member Secretary and Director of Environment Srinet Kotwale; GCZMA member Dr Antonio Mascarenhas; RFO Eusebio Braganza; Director of Bio-diversity Board Dr Nitin Sawant and Cortalim-Quelosim panchayat Secretary Asha Mesta visited the site and found work was going on for putting up a platform on the water body without any permissions.
“How can this happen without the knowledge of the panchayat? The Sarpanch Hillario Figuerido, who is a ward member, should have known of this work. I am surprised if he is not aware,” Saldanha said.
When asked about the whereabouts of the Sarpanch, Mesta claimed that she had come late to the panchayat because of official work and that the sarpanch was not in his seat.
The Member Secretary told Mesta to issue stop work order and file an FIR. Dr Mascarenhas informed that no permissions were granted by his department and the site falls in CRZ-I area. The RFO was also directed to file an FIR for cutting of mangroves.
Later speaking to the press, Saldanha said that she had received a phone pertatining to the violation. “I know that the project was laid to rest and the government had made it very clear that it was not feasible. But suddenly the issue has reopened and I am surprised at what has happed,” Saldanha said.
“When I had come to this site about year ago, there was only a kutcha road. Today I can see reclamation, mangroves being chopped and surely this cannot happen overnight.”
Later, a Forest Department truck arrived at the site to confiscate the wood which was stacked at the site.
