Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has stayed the work around the former Aguada Central Jail following a petition alleging hill ravaging and tree cutting.
The Court has also issued notices to the State government, Goa Tourism Development Corporation and other respondents involved in the project.
In a 52-page Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activists led by Roshan Mathais, the authorities have indulged in aggressive hill ravaging, tree cutting and devastation outside the Aguada Jail in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown.
Two survey numbers 90 /0 and 91 (part) of the Candolim village are also affected due to the destruction, it mentioned.
“…it is being done with the aid and help of excavator, bulldozer and JCB machinery with various trucks being lined up to collect the debris under the garb of restoration work of the erstwhile Central Aguada Jail by developing an approach road and creating a parking facility outside the gate,” the petition states.
The petitioners allege that the activity is causing irretrievable ecological damage in blatant violation of various environmental laws.
As such, the petitioners have sought the Court to stop the ongoing work damaging the two survey numbers areas and restore the hill razed and environment destroyed in these areas.
Under the Central government’s scheme of development of Coastal Circuit, the Aguada Jail is being restored as a tourist destination wherein the existing structure will be undergoing repairs and restoration.
