PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday directed Estonio Francisco De Almeida not to occupy the bungalow and to deposit Rs 50 lakh, for failing to restore the hill, which was cut at Taleigao.
Of the Rs 50 lakh, De Almeida has been asked to deposit Rs 15 lakh by Friday and to deposit the balance Rs 35 lakh by February 5.
During the previous hearing on a writ petition filed by former CCP Mayor Tony Rodrigues last week, the division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes had directed the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) to submit the estimates for completing the restoration work, after prima facie, De Almeida failed to carry out the work, despite undertakings to the Court.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Rohit Bras De Sa had brought to the notice of the Court, the report and the photographs which indicated that the respondent De Almeida, in the name of completing the works, had indulged into further hill cutting.
The NGPDA had issued a show cause notice to the respondent, while the Court had also directed De Almeida not to resort to any hill-cutting, but to stick to the original plans for restoration as provided by the NGPDA.
In August last year, the Court had directed the respondent to deposit Rs 25 lakh but after relying upon his assurance, the Court had reduced the amount to Rs 10 lakh. But the Court found that prima facie, the works were not going on at the agreed pace, as per the NGPDA’s reply and that the respondent had resorted to further hill-cutting, without obtaining any permissions.
