TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Tension prevailed over hill-cutting activity at the famous Jesuit Retreat House in Baga.
Director of Xavier Retreat House Fr Ronnie D’Souza filed a complaint with the Anjuna Police, accusing Arpora-Nagoa Panch Cleophas Fernandes of trespassing into their property and undertaking hill-cutting activity, thereby posing a serious threat to life and property of those residing and visiting the Xavier Retreat House.
Fernandes was accused of cutting the hill and trees by engaging a JCB of the contractor undertaking a retaining wall construction work at Baga beach.
Acting on Fr D’Souza’s complaint and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo’s intervention, the JCB was confiscated by an Anjuna police team led by PI Paresh Naik and PSI Vijaynath Kavlekar.
Later, Bardez Mamlatdar Shama Arondekar and a Flying Squad also rushed to the site and took stock of the situation.
Speaking to media persons, Fr D’Souza said Fernandes was involved in illegal hill cutting in private property belonging to the Jesuit community in Goa without their oral or written permission.
“I have brought it to the notice of the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat, but no action was forthcoming for reasons unknown. Hence, I approached Calangute MLA Michael Lobo to seek his intervention,” said Fr D’Souza.
“The hill-cutting work for the road through our private property has endangered the Retreat House and our lives. We are constantly in fear that the Retreat House could collapsing, in case nothing is done immediately. We want the contractor or those responsible to undo the danger without any delay,” he added.
Lobo, who also interacted with the reporters, also accused Fernandes (Celfa) of undertaking the activity, which has endangered the Xavier Retreat House.
“Fernandes engaged a JCB of the WRD contractor undertaking the retaining wall at Baga beach and forcibly cut the hill, trees and damaged/removed the retaining wall recently constructed by the government, to protect the Xavier Retreat House.
“We had spent around Rs 1.22 crore to construct the retaining wall through government funds. The contractor’s JCB operator has stated that the local panch member had personally directed him to cut the hill for the road through the property of the Jesuit Community.”
“The contractor’s supervisor has also confirmed that one Celfa, panch of Arpora-Nagoa, was involved. Anjuna Police and the government should thoroughly investigate the illegal acts of the panchayat member of Arpora-Nagoa and take the matter to its logical conclusion” said Michael Lobo.
When contacted, Bardez Mamlatdar Shama Aronderkar confirmed having observed hill-cutting work, including the retaining wall meant to protect the Xavier Retreat House, besides damages to the huge rocks with the help of JCB.
“I will accordingly put up the matter to my seniors for necessary action,” said Aronderkar.
WRD Junior Engineer J Vinoo, the contractor’s supervisor, Arpora-Nagoa Deputy Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, Panchas Agostinho D’Souza and Sakharam Naik, Talathi Redkar, the Flying Squad members of State Election Commission and Anjuna police officials were also present at the site.
When contacted for his reaction to allegations of hill cutting and trespass into the Jesuit Community at Baga, Cleophas Fernandes distanced himself from the illegal activity.
“I am not involved in the hill-cutting at Baga Retreat,” insisted Fernandes.
