Team Herald
SINQUERIM: Over 100 residents of Candolim and Sinquerim along with the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) on Sunday protested the alleged rampant destruction of the Sinquerim hill.
The protest meeting was organised near the jetty at Sinquerim to create awareness among the people on the alleged rampant environmental destruction carried out in the village. The gathering condemned the illegal cutting of over 70 trees in Survey No. 79 and the blatant destruction of hill in the village.
People from Calangute, Siolim Constituencies and NGOs from across the State extended their full support.
After the protest meeting, the gathering marched to the hill where the trees were cut. The locals and activists shouted slogans such as “Sodchena Re Sodchena, Jiklea Bogor Sodchena; Diunchena Re Diunchena, Dongor Katrunk Diunchena; Amka Zai Amka Zai, Amche Dongor Amka Zai.”
President of the Calangute Constituency Citizens Forum Premanand Divkar alleged that many illegalities are taking place with the blessings of the elected representatives and that many hills have been cut. Large areas of the thickly-forested hills are shown as settlement zones in the Outline Development Plan (ODP) which is completely illegal.
“We have submitted letters to the CRZ, Forest Department, panchayat, NGPDA and other authorities. The Forest Department has inspected the said hill and directed them not to cut the trees or clean the forest unless they take an NOC. For the last 10 days, work has been going on and trees are cut illegally. If things are not sorted out we will march to the Forest Department at Ponda and seek an explanation on the delay in action or else we will take legal action against the culprits,” warned Divkar.
“We demand that vertical development be stopped. First of all, we are not self-sufficient in electricity and water supply,” he added.
A member of Musical Warriors and activist Sudeep Dalvi called for unity among Goans to fight issues plaguing the State.
“There is a problem everywhere but we need to find a solution. If a person goes to file a case then please make sure your documentation is in place. Secondly, the issue should be truthful and thorough knowledge on the topic is a must. If you keep in mind all this, then definitely you are on the right path. Every individual should take up the responsibility to safeguard the environment in their respective villages,” said Dalvi.
President of Pilerne Citizens Forum Prakash Bandodkar requested the people to fight destruction of nature unitedly.
Former Calangute legislator Agnelo Fernandes said the hill is the lifeline of Candolim and has been declared an aquifer hill and if it was destroyed then the water collected will stop flowing.
