MARGAO: It is almost a month but the Town and Country Planning (TCP), Margao is yet to initiate action against the illegal hill cutting activity that destroyed the historical hill at Curtorim. The delay in action has raised eyebrows of many.
On Monday TCP officials informed Herald that they have received a reply from the concerned person but yet to verify it before initiating the next course of action.
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It is pertinent to note that Herald had highlighted the issue pertaining to alleged illegal hill cutting at Curtorim resulting in major destruction of the environment. In the Herald report, ‘Curtorim loses its historical hill to illegal construction’ it was explained how the local villagers were infuriated about the destruction of historical ‘Furam Dongor’ by a builder, allegedly in connivance with some government officials to build a housing complex.
It was further revealed that the housing complex was being built without taking necessary permission from the local panchayat. Not only trees have been felled, but also a temporary road has been built till the top of the hill.
Upon the inputs from the villagers TCP team had inspected the site and confirmed that illegal hill cutting had taken place leading to destruction to the environment.
Sandeep Surlekar, Deputy Town Planner, Margao informed Herald that his office has received a reply from the concerned person, after a notice was put at the construction site. Earlier, the show cause notice issued by the TCP was returned unserved.
“Few days back, the office received a reply to the show cause notice from the concerned person and it is yet to be verified. For further action, scrutiny will be done for the violation of TCP rules”, he said.
At the same time he also told Herald that FIR will be lodged against the concerned person, if the reply is found not satisfactory.
“There is no delay in taking the action”, said Surlekar, when Herald questioned him about the slow pace in acting against the illegal hill cutting activities.
