Massive hill cutting in NDZ at Batim on MLA’s land

SURAJ NANDREKAR

suraj@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In a major violation, massive hill cutting has been undertaken in the No Development Zone in Batim, in St Andre Constituency in property belonging to local MLA Francis Silveira. However, the MLA has expressed ignorance about the hill cutting in his land. 

Interestingly, the hill cutting has taken place in the plot survey number 128/2, Batim, Tiswadi, with area admeasuring 2475 sq meters and has been shown as general industry. As per Form I & IX the land belongs to Silveira Inland Water Transport Private Ltd.   

Locals allege that the MLA himself has been carrying out the hill cutting for several months now. “The soil extracted by the politician is being sold to Dilip Buildcon Ltd for huge money,” said locals, who did not want to be named.

They said that Silveira now wants the land to be converted to settlement zone. “This was a NDZ, where cutting of trees is not permitted and given the proximity to the lake no such permissions for cutting can be allowed. This is clear violations of the law,” the locals said.

Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik said he does not recollect any permission granted for hill cutting at the said survey number at Batim. He also said that there was no complaint with the Town and Country Planning department in this regard.  

Batim Sarpanch Francis D’Souza said that the panchayat has not granted any permission for the hill cutting. “I have no clue to any hill cutting near Batim lake as nobody has brought it to our notice,” he told Herald.

St Andre MLA Francis Silveira, who also happens to be the chairman of North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA), admitted that the land belongs to him. “Yes, the land belongs to me but I have not done any hill cutting,” he stated. 

He said that the land has been leased out to Dilip Buildcon for mobilisation purpose. “The hill cutting may have been done by Dilip Buildcon and they may have taken permission for the same. I am not aware of anything,” he said. 

Vice President of Dilip Buildcon Atul Joshi said that the hill cutting was done long back for purpose of soil for Zuari bridge. “That project was undertaken long back. Currently there is no work going on there,” he said.

Asked whether they had sought permissions from TCP or local panchayat, he said, “Let me check and revert as usually we at DBL never do any work without having all requisite permissions.”