Team Herald
SANVORDEM: Despite government assuring that it will not allow illegal hill cutting and tree felling, a stone crusher has been illegally installed on Survey No 8/1 in Sanvordem Panchayat jurisdiction, where large-scale tree cutting and land filling have also occurred.
Locals claim the stone crusher is situated directly on a nullah that is prone to regular flooding during monsoon. The nullah is adjacent to the main road from Sanvordem to Mollem and Dharbandora, they alleged.
The residents claim that these activities were based solely on provisional permission from the Sanvordem panchayat, which does not authorise them.
Swapnil Bhandari, a local resident, said, “Objections were raised when the clearing work began. Despite these objections, numerous trees were cut down.”
Bhandari questioned how authorities permitted the cutting of so many trees, suggesting that someone in a higher position is influencing the panchayat’s decisions.
Bhandari said, “The issue was raised in the last gram sabha, we had requested the panchayat not to permit any projects in the area due to existing high levels of pollution from two industrial units. These units have not controlled their pollution.”
He cited a High Court order that prohibits permissions for projects within a 15-metre radius of the road, while the activities in question are occurring directly adjacent to the road.”
Calling for immediate cancellation of the project’s permission, Bhandari demanded swift action from the Panchayat and other authorities concerned.