Team Herald
PANJIM: The North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) on Tuesday directed Biotech India Pvt Ltd to immediately stop its ongoing work at Kadamba Plateau for its alleged illegal development by cutting the hill.
The NGPDA has also asked the project proponent to show cause within seven days as why the permissions granted should not be revoked for alleged illegal construction.
Social activist Aires Rodrigues and RGP chief Manoj Parab had raised the issue of massive illegal hill cutting at Kadamba plateau. Following which, TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane along with officials from NGPDA conducted a site inspection and it was revealed that the project proponent was carrying out illegal development in violation of the permission granted under TCP Act 1974 for cutting of hill.
NGPDA member secretary RK Pandita in the notice issued said that the permission issued under section 17-A was limited to merely excavation for footings and foundations, whereas the firm deviated from the approved plan by bluntly excavating and cutting the hill beyond the scope of the permission granted therefore has remiss in adherence to the permission given under TCP Act.
“The excavation is done for almost full length of the building Block A and for a width of 10.00 to 15.00 mts and height of 5.00 to 6.00mts approximately on average, disrupting the land’s overall profile, the excavation is done to lay the raft foundation by casting cement concrete base as was observed during the site inspection which is the violation of the permission,” he said further.
The Authority also noted that the material brought from outside the property has been mounted to the height of 15.00 to 20.00 mts which will endanger the lives of those living below on the northern side of the property.
