The blatant hill defacement in Reis Magos village has left the locals concerned about their safety as they fear a Wayanad-like tragedy due to the ongoing concretisation.
The residents' fear stems from the fact that residential homes and buildings stretch for over a kilometre along the riverfront directly below the hill.
The villagers are apprehensive about the extensive construction on the partly lateritic soil and explained that the massive wall being built will add significant pressure to the already fragile hillside.
To add to their woes, the villagers fear that the construction of 62 villas each having individual swimming pool will put additional pressure on the existing infrastructure as the village reels under drinking water scarcity during summer and due to irregular water supply.
Activist Advino Fernandes said, “I complained to TCP Department regarding fraudulent sale of 332 sq mts of land belonging to Comunidade of Nerul by M/s Reis Magos Estate Pvt Ltd to the previous Blue Coast Infrastructure Development Ltd to secure access to the Phase I project of bungalows.”
Fernandes said that they have challenged the Sanad issued in 1994 as it was granted for construction within one year. He argued that the project area being huge, an environmental clearance is a must.
He said that after their complaint, a site inspection was carried out by the local Talathi, who confirmed the hill cutting activity and construction of a retaining wall.
“Digging of the hill went even 12 metres deep in some areas to reduce the gradient, though the TCP Department did not register any details of this despite an inspection in 2012. The hill was dug at various spots during the last couple of decades and more,” he said.
Sidhesh Govekar, a villager said, “We are apprehensive of the major construction activity on the partly lateritic soil. The huge wall will also load and pile pressure on the fragile hillside.My house is situated near the project and we face the imminent danger.”
Jonathan Crasto, another villager pointed out that the construction of over 60 bungalows with individual swimming pools will put additional pressure on the existing infrastructure.
“I do not know from where the company will fetch huge quantities of water. We face water scarcity during the summer season, and are forced to rely on PWD water twice a week released late at night. The company has already dug bore wells and we are experiencing a change in water taste. The water table in the village is also depleting. The villagers are yet to realise the severity of this problem.”
When contacted a company official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have obtained all permissions for the construction of 62 bungalows. We have resolved all the issues and we were not issued any stop work order. We have dug only three bore wells as we require water for gardening and landscaping.”
When asked how the company would manage huge quantities of water for its swimming pools and other requirements, the official said, “We have paid crores of rupees infrastructure tax to the government for the ground level reservoir including laying of pipelines.”
The property, originally under Survey No. 87/1 and 86/1, spanning 1,50,615 square metres, was owned by M/s Reis Magos Estate Pvt Ltd. In 1994, the company converted the hilly land into a settlement zone.
Around 2008, DLF’s M/s Delanco Home & Resorts Pvt Ltd and M/s Bhamini Real Estate Developers Pvt Ltd acquired a portion of the property under Survey No. 87/1 from Blue Coast Infrastructure Development Limited.
Construction of bungalows began a few years later, facing stiff objections from villagers and support from the then Leader of the Opposition, late Manohar Parrikar. The work ceased after the TCP Department forwarded a complaint to the Department of Vigilance, which started an investigation.
In 2012, the Navy raised security concerns about the project on the hill, but work continued. In 2020, DLF secured approvals for construction of bungalows and commenced work. However, in 2022, DLF requested cancellation of these approvals, instead obtaining permission from the TCP Department to develop about 50 plots of various sizes (1,200 sq mts). The incomplete structures were subsequently demolished.
The company asserted that all necessary approvals have been obtained, including an EIA (silver grading) from the Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change on September 12, 2008. Permission for hill cutting was issued by the TCP Department on November 20, 2009.
To add to their woes, the villagers fear that the construction of 62 villas each having individual swimming pool will put additional pressure on the existing infrastructure as the village reels under drinking water scarcity during summer and due to irregular water supply.
Activist Advino Fernandes said, “I complained to TCP Department regarding fraudulent sale of 332 sq mts of land belonging to Comunidade of Nerul by M/s Reis Magos Estate Pvt Ltd to the previous Blue Coast Infrastructure Development Ltd to secure access to the Phase I project of bungalows.”
Fernandes said that they have challenged the Sanad issued in 1994 as it was granted for construction within one year. He argued that the project area being huge, an environmental clearance is a must.
He said that after their complaint, a site inspection was carried out by the local Talathi, who confirmed the hill cutting activity and construction of a retaining wall.
“Digging of the hill went even 12 metres deep in some areas to reduce the gradient, though the TCP Department did not register any details of this despite an inspection in 2012. The hill was dug at various spots during the last couple of decades and more,” he said.
Sidhesh Govekar, a villager said, “We are apprehensive of the major construction activity on the partly lateritic soil. The huge wall will also load and pile pressure on the fragile hillside.My house is situated near the project and we face the imminent danger.”
Jonathan Crasto, another villager pointed out that the construction of over 60 bungalows with individual swimming pools will put additional pressure on the existing infrastructure.
“I do not know from where the company will fetch huge quantities of water. We face water scarcity during the summer season, and are forced to rely on PWD water twice a week released late at night. The company has already dug bore wells and we are experiencing a change in water taste. The water table in the village is also depleting. The villagers are yet to realise the severity of this problem.”
When contacted a company official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have obtained all permissions for the construction of 62 bungalows. We have resolved all the issues and we were not issued any stop work order. We have dug only three bore wells as we require water for gardening and landscaping.”
When asked how the company would manage huge quantities of water for its swimming pools and other requirements, the official said, “We have paid crores of rupees infrastructure tax to the government for the ground level reservoir including laying of pipelines.”
The property, originally under Survey No. 87/1 and 86/1, spanning 1,50,615 square metres, was owned by M/s Reis Magos Estate Pvt Ltd. In 1994, the company converted the hilly land into a settlement zone.
Around 2008, DLF’s M/s Delanco Home & Resorts Pvt Ltd and M/s Bhamini Real Estate Developers Pvt Ltd acquired a portion of the property under Survey No. 87/1 from Blue Coast Infrastructure Development Limited.
Construction of bungalows began a few years later, facing stiff objections from villagers and support from the then Leader of the Opposition, late Manohar Parrikar. The work ceased after the TCP Department forwarded a complaint to the Department of Vigilance, which started an investigation.
In 2012, the Navy raised security concerns about the project on the hill, but work continued. In 2020, DLF secured approvals for construction of bungalows and commenced work. However, in 2022, DLF requested cancellation of these approvals, instead obtaining permission from the TCP Department to develop about 50 plots of various sizes (1,200 sq mts). The incomplete structures were subsequently demolished.
The company asserted that all necessary approvals have been obtained, including an EIA (silver grading) from the Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change on September 12, 2008. Permission for hill cutting was issued by the TCP Department on November 20, 2009.