TEAM HERALD
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MERCES: The Flying Squad on Tuesday inspected hill cutting activity undertaken for a project at Curca, after they received an oral complaint from the villagers.
However, the Flying Squad was unable to ascertain the exact area of the hill cutting activity as they did not bring along the necessary equipment.
A 14-unit ‘controversial’ project is coming up in the area for which the hill cutting was undertaken. The villagers are opposing the project on grounds that it will destroy the greenery of the village and the issue had figured at the recent gram sabha, with a local Manguesh Kuttikar citing various irregularities in the documentation.
Speaking to Herald after the inspection, surveyor Sanford Dias informed that the inspection was necessitated as they received an oral complaint stating that hill cutting was going on at Curca.
When questioned whether they have informed the party which is undertaking the hill cutting, Dias replied in the negative, stating that they could not do so since they are not aware of it.
“We will find out the party involved and accordingly serve a show-cause notice,” he informed while stating that a report will be submitted to the Flying Squad in-charge and Deputy Collector Sheru Shirodkar for further action.
“We could also not figure out the exact area of the hill cutting activity as we did not bring along the necessary equipment,” he added.
A villager, Anthony Cardozo, informed that the project, which they had stopped in 2008 with the help of Utt Goenkara, is being again revived as the Curca Panchayat has allegedly renewed licence, even after opposition from villagers.
However, Sarpanch Ghanshyam Vernekar informed that they have renewed the licence since the high court case has been ruled in favour of the owner and the order clearly states that the panchayat is free to issue licence to the project.
TCP draftsman Rita Sawant and Constable Rohidas Shetkar were part of the Flying Squad.
