Team Herald
VASCO: Goencho Avaaz on Friday demanded immediate action to stop the destruction of pristine age-old Quelossim khazan land and restore it to its old nature.
At a press briefing, they also urged to impose a severe penalty for the violation of law and order and directives of the authorities on the proponents of the Mini India Park.
Goencho Avaaz said they have learnt that the attempts made by the owner of khazan land in the village of Quelossim to recommence the project of Mini India by destroying the nature was to satisfy his financial greed.
The blatant statements made by Agarwal, the owner, challenging the local MLA Alina Saldanha and daring her from stopping his project defying the law to go ahead and destroying the eco sensitive khazan land shows the free hand this land mafia is having in Goa,” said Goencho Avaaz leaders.
The NGO further said even though the elected representatives have failed to save Goa’s land and environment, Goencho Avaaz, along with the people of Goa, the local villagers and tribals will join hands to do all that is required to save khazan land of Quelossim.
“It must be noted that the illegalities of land filling, broadening of bandhs, mangrove cutting continued from 2012 in spite of stop orders of any work and/or land filling. Also, orders from collector, GCZMA and Goa State Biodiversity Board have been ignored,” said Goencho Avaaz.
The organisation feels MLA Saldanha should give a fitting response for the present defiance by Agarwal, as the former minister of science and technology.
Goencho Avaaz has reliably learnt from the locals that they had written to MLA Saldanha to stop the project and are aggrieved about her inability to carry on the legacy of late Matahny Saldanha.
“It would be better for the MLA to rally with the people to stop the defiant Agarwal and his project,” said Goencho Avaaz.
It may be recalled that a PIL filed by Goa Foundation in 2016 challenging the powers of Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB) for granting approval resulted in the withdrawal of the approval.
However, this did not stop the illegal work that is carried out still date.
