Team Herald
MARGAO: Violations related to the reclamation of low-lying areas and excavations into the hillsides have increased in South Goa, particularly in Canacona, in 2024. It is ironic that, despite multiple offences being registered against individuals, many accused have remained ‘unidentified’ to date, despite police conducting ‘thorough’ investigations.
According to information from the police, as
of 18 December 2024, police stations across South Goa had registered a total of 21 cases, of which 16 were detected. In comparison, by the same date
in 2023, only 15 cases had been registered, with eight detected.
Among the major cases reported, on 9 December 2024, Canacona police registered a case under Sections 17-A and 17-B
of the TCP Act, 1974, against Dattaraj Kamat for allegedly carrying out illegal hill cutting. On the same day, acting on a complaint from Kashish Gauns Dessai from the Office
of the Deputy Town Planner, Canacona police also registered an offence against a builder accused of illegal landfilling in
an area earmarked as paddy fields.
In November 2024, two more cases of illegal hill cutting were reported. Based on complaints from the Town and Country
Planning (TCP) Department, offences were registered at Loliem-Polem and Agonda against alleged violators Anand Naik,
Krishna Naik, and Ulhas Naik, residents of Polem. Another FIR was filed on November 7, 2024 against Purshottamot Naik Gaunkar for alleged illegal hill cutting on a property in Agonda. PSI Rajshekhar Reddy is currently investigating the case.
In December 2024,
Rohan Gaonkar, an official from the Town and Country Planning Department in Margao, lodged a complaint with Cuncolim
police regarding illegal hill cutting in Cuncolim village in Salcete. The case pertains to Survey No. 474/1, where the accused, Abdul Gani Shaikh from Pairaband, Zuzegal, Cuncolim, allegedly carried out hill-cutting activities without obtaining the
necessary permissions. Cuncolim police have since registered an offence.
In October 2024, following a complaint by Shailesh Naik, Deputy Town Planner of Quepem, the police
registered a case of hill
cutting in Rivona. According to the police, the accused, Devdatta Patil of Shree Subrahmanya Vangmayee Parishad, Sanguem, allegedly carried out illegal hill cutting on land bearing Survey No. 64/2 without securing prior written
permission from the Town and Country Planning
Department. PSI Siddesh Naik of Quepem Police Station is investigating the case.
In September 2024, Ponda police booked Sameer Wachasundar for allegedly conducting illegal hill-cutting activities in Piliem-Dharbandora without proper authorisation. The case was registered following a complaint lodged by a planning draftsman from the Deputy Town Planner’s office. The complaint stated that prior to 13 August 2024, Wachasundar, as the occupier of land in Survey No. 42/2 of Piliem village, Dharbandora, engaged in hill cutting without the required approval from the Town and Country Planning Department.
According to the police, the Town and Country Planning Department has lodged complaints
in these cases, which were subsequently registered at
police stations across South Goa. Several cases against unknown individuals remain under investigation.
Notably, the state government has tasked talathis with monitoring and reporting incidents of hill cutting. The South Goa Collector has directed talathis to conduct inspections even on weekends and holidays, ensuring immediate reporting of illegal activities.
A circular issued by the South Goa Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority mandates compliance with these directives, warning that failure to act promptly and diligently could result in disciplinary action.
The monsoon season in Goa has witnessed several minor landslides across the state. In response, the government, during
a meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee, implemented a multi-pronged strategy
to prevent further landslides. As part of these measures, all talathis in South Goa have been directed to conduct thorough inspections within their respective jurisdictions to identify and verify any unauthorised hill cutting and landfilling activities, including those on both private and public lands. Upon detection, talathis must immediately report such incidents to the district control room or the flying squad.