PANJIM: Pointing out that hill-cutting is being carried out in private property at Taleigao in the name of completing the restoration work, despite its order, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday asked the property owner to file a detailed report explaining the position in this regards by January 29.
The High Court has asked the respondent Estonio Francisco De Almeida to include the work order issued to the contractor, payments made to the contractor, and material procured for all these activities in the report stating that, prima facie, the Court thinks that this is not a case of compliance.
The Court had earlier directed the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) to restore the hill and to recover the expenses towards the restoration from Almeida and also directed him to deposit Rs 25 lakh. The amount was further reduced to Rs 10 lakh relying upon an assurance from De Almeida.
Hearing the writ petition filed by former CCP Mayor Tony Rodrigues, the Court directed Almeida not to resort to any hill-cutting, but to stick to the original plans for restoration as provided by the NGPDA. Adv Rohit Bras De Sa represented Rodrigues.
NGPDA Adv Sahish Mhambrey filed a report which, prima facie, indicated that the work was not going on. But the court observed that as per the report and the photographs produced, the respondent in the name of completing the works, had indulged into further hill-cutting.
The respondent’s counsel Adv V P Thali stated that a show cause notice has been received by Almeida and that he will file a detailed reply explaining the position by Monday, January 29.
The Court told him that affidavit must refer to and include the work order issued to the contractor, payments made to the contractor, and material procured by the petitioner for all these activities because, prima facie, it was not a case of compliance.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 30.
