Team Herald
PANJIM: The North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) on Tuesday revoked the development permission granted to Biotech India Pvt Ltd for allegedly indulging in major hill cutting at Kadamba Plateau, in clear violation of the permission granted under TCP Act 1974.
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The NGPDA member secretary Vertika Dagur has also directed the project proponent to restore the hill as well land to its original condition as exist before undertaking the development work, failing which has warned to prosecute.
The Authority had on January 31 issued show cause cum stop work order to the project proponent and was asked to submit reply within seven days.
The project proponent in its reply submitted to the Authority had denied all the irregularities and violations as mentioned in the show cause notice and had submitted that the development work is undertaken as per the approval.
“During the personal hearing held on February 13, you (Biotech India) had denied all the irregularities and submission made in detail were found un-satisfactory as it is found that you have indulged in major hill cutting beyond the scope of the permission. Further, it is also clear that you have carried out hill cutting blatantly in clear violation of permission granted under section 17-A of TCP Act,” the revocation order reads.
Accordingly, the matter was placed before the government for necessary direction. The Government directed that development permission granted be revoked and immediate steps to be taken for restoration of hilly portion.
“Therefore, in view of the directions from the government and considering all aspects and material, including site inspection report, the permission granted under Section 17-A and development permission issued on November 27, 2020 stands revoked with immediate effect,” the order said.
The NGPDA has also confirmed that the development undertaken so far is in contravention of TCP Act.
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.
