VASCO: The villagers of Consua, Cortalim, have strongly objected to the hill cutting activities underway at the Consua hill in the Cortalim-Quelossim panchayat’s jurisdiction. The residents have claimed that a contractor, who has been awarded a contract to construct a bypass in Margao, had been cutting the hill and excavating and transporting the boulders and rubble to the bypass road construction site.
According to the villagers, the issue came to light around eight days ago, when they noticed trucks frequently moving from the hill with a load of rubble and boulders.
“Soon after we noticed the trucks, we went to the site and found that a JCB was excavating the hill area and the rubble was then loaded in the trucks. We immediately objected and demanded to stop the work. However, the staff at the site showed us some NOCs and permissions, which they obtained from the Town and Country Planning Department,” said Tito Cardozo, a Consua local.
Another villager Francis Lucas stated, “We don’t know whether the contractor is aware that the hill cutting site has a railway tunnel belonging to the Konkan Railway Corporation and the same is passing right underneath the area under excavation. This might endanger the railway tunnel, besides cause severe environmental damage.”
Meanwhile, the villagers have made a representation to Sarpanch Hilario Figueiredo seeking action against those involved.
