POINGUINIM: Massive cutting of hillocks and trees, covering thousands of square meters of land at Ponsulem in the Canacona municipal area, has been going on for the last one month.
The people living near the hill fear for their lives and property as loose mud and boulders could come crashing down on them.
While most of them were afraid to complain, it is learnt that one person tipped off the Canacona RFO Prakash Naik, who immediately swung into action. He visited the village and saw that such activities were going on in three places, and that eleven matured trees were cut and many more set on fire.
When contacted, Naik said that he had apprehended some persons at the site and summoned the property owner Elvitho Gracias for questioning. He stated that Gracias’ statement had been recorded and the matter was being pursued further.
On hill cutting, the RFO said that it was not under his jurisdiction and it was the duty of the Mines and Geology Department to take action. He further said that he had found two more violators who had razed trees and cut hillocks near Gracias’ property.
Several attempts to contact the Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya proved futile, while the staff who picked this reporter’s repeated calls said that the director was in his chamber.
The ward councillor of Ponsulem, Shyam Sundar Desai, lives barely meters away from the hill site, and when contacted, he said that he was not aware of the same.
