Team Herald
PONDA: Curti-Khandepar and Veling-Priol residents as well as social activist Swati Kerkar have alleged that despite several complaints, the government had failed to stop the large-scale illegal hill cutting and levelling work taking place at night behind Sai Service in Zigdimal, Curti.
Addressing the press on Saturday, Kerkar and the locals claimed that a hill had been destroyed last week and warned of an agitation if the State authorities, including Deputy Collector, Town and Country Planning Department, Conservator of Forests, flying squad, and Ponda Police fail to stop the hill cutting immediately.
Kerkar alleged that complaints had been forwarded to the authorities several days ago, but nobody had acknowledged the same. She also claimed that the work was carried out at night time and during holidays, and that the government was encouraging the builder lobby, which was out to destroy the identity of Goans. She also alleged that the Curti-Khandepar panchayat had failed to take note of the illegal activities.
According to local Shrikant Naik, the hill ‘Bodkor Dongor’ in Zigdimal is a source of water for agricultural activities and a lake is located at the foothill. He said that if the hill cutting continued to take place, the residents of Zigdimal and Veling-Priol, especially farmers, would suffer major groundwater problems.
Local Naresh Naik said that the pipeline supplying water to Panjim from the OPA water treatment plant passes through the village, and it has been buried under mud due to the hill cutting activities. He added that the PWD had failed to take note of the same.
“The area has been declared as a no-development zone, but several hundreds of trees were felled and a mud road has been developed on the hill to facilitate the movement of excavation machinery,” said Naik.
The Rainbow Warriors Federation general secretary has also sent a complaint to the Chief Secretary of Goa Government regarding the failure of the State authorities to act against the illegal hill cutting activities in Survey No 4/1 of Curti, besides in other parts of Goa despite several complaints.
