Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed Taleigao resident to restore the hill allegedly illegally cut by him, in his own property near the church within six months, by following a restoration plan prepared by North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA).
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The Taleigao resident has been asked to file compliance report before the court by August 25.
The NGPDA has also been asked to file compliance report by August 31, 2023. The matter has been posted for next hearing on September 4.
During the last hearing, the Court had directed the NGPDA to restore the hill and to recover the expenses towards the restoration from the respondents Estonio Francisco De Almeida. Earlier, taking the excuse of cyclone, the NGPDA had told the court that the hill was eroded and had now become difficult to restore it.
But Adv Rohit Bras de Sa, arguing on behalf of the petitioner former Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Tony Rodrigues, challenged the NGPDA’s contention and produced a copy of stop-work order dated October 13, 2021 issued by the North Goa Collector to De Almeida. He told the Court that the petitioner had filed several complaints to the NGPDA seeking action against the illegal
hill cutting.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Mahesh S Sonak and Justice B P Deshpande sought to know from the respondent NGPDA whether it had filed an FIR against the person involved in illegal hill cutting at Taleigao. The Court then directed the NGPDA to prepare a plan to restore the hill and to recover the expenses incurred towards the restoration work from the respondent.
