PONDA: Veling-Priol residents, activists and NGOs gheraoed Ponda Town Planning officer Sandeep Surlakar over the rampant hill cutting and filling of fields taking place in Mangeshi at night. They claimed that such activities, which are allegedly taking place under the protection of bouncers, would affect farming and destroy the nullah. They also threatened to launch an agitation if no action was taken against those responsible.
Farmer Ulo Gavde claimed that a builder, with help of a local, had destroyed his field by constructing a mud road on it to facilitate excavation work near a hill.
The locals, activist Swati Kerkar, and the Rainbow Warriors Federation informed the Town Planning officer that a hill had been destroyed over the last several days and that plots were being sold there. They threatened to stage an agitation if the State authorities, including Deputy Collector, Town Planning, Conservator of Forests, flying squad and Ponda Police, fail to stop the alleged illegal work, immediately.
Kerkar alleged that complaints had been forwarded to the authorities several days ago, but nobody had acknowledged the same. She also claimed that the work was carried out at night and during holidays, and that the government was encouraging the builder lobby, which was out to destroy the identity of Goans.
She added that if the hill cutting continued to take place, the residents of Zigdimal and Veling-Priol, especially farmers, would suffer major groundwater problems.
TCP officer Surlakar assured the villagers that he had already filed an FIR over the hill cutting activities in Curti and that he would take action against the illegal activities in Mangeshi.
