MAPUSA: Alert residents of Verla, Canca, Parra and surrounding areas on Monday stopped the alleged illegal construction, tree and hill cutting activity underway on Verla Comunidade land.
Based on a complaint, the panchas led by sarpanch Amita Korgaonkar inspected the site in presence of several residents.
Roy Fernandes, a resident said, “Goans are frustrated as people are coming and cutting trees, hills and ruining our State. This is not only happening in Verla but all across Goa. Goans are now uniting and going to stop hill cutting and destruction of trees”.
“Today people are dying due to lack of oxygen but some influential people are involved in such illegalities just to make money before the election. Goans are not going to allow such things. Let them call us “susegad” but once Goans wake up, they will vent ire. The government machinery has become corrupt and is using muscle power to support the mafia and builder lobby all over India to settle here in Goa”, Roy claimed.
“There is massive water tank where the hill cutting is underway. If this activity continues then the water tank will collapse resulting in heavy losses to the government and will lead to people’s sufferings. This illegal tree and hill cutting is being carried without permissions from the concerned authorities,” another resident alleged.
Gurudas Mayekar, another local said, “This is comunidade land which is non-tenanted property. How can the comunidade sell the land? We have all the original documents since 1950. Similarly, the Verla Comunidade has sold all the hills.”
Verla Canca sarpanch Amita Korgaonkar said, “The panchayat will initiate action. We have conducted the inspection and after following all due procedures action will be initiated”.
