What is the outcome of Kaknamoddi Hill Cutting?

CUNCOLIM: It’s almost two months since agitated Cuncolkars had demanded to stop illegal hill cutting going at Kaknamoddi and had also demanded to restore the hill. Unfortunately, nothing has been done either by the Council or from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) side.
For the last two months Cuncolkars have been demanding action be taken against the culprits and hill to be restored but no one has shown interest. Elected Councillors and the Chairperson have given up hopes and say they have no authority or power to take action against those who are involved in hill cutting. The Chief Officer and other officers who are responsible to act against such illegalities are literally not moving.
 It took the Superintendent of police Samy Tavares, who is also a tiatrist, composed and sung a song on this issue. Meanwhile, Kabir Morais, a local social worker has set up a WhatsaApp group to bring all together to fight against the illegalities.
Locals Vijay Prabhu, Dr Jorson Fernandes and Kabir Moraes have filed a complaint against the illegalities. Chief Officer Violet Gomes called the complainants and the opposite party twice for the hearing but nothing came out of this. Since then, the CO postponed the proceedings twice. She has asked the offending party to file the response in writing. In between, out of the blue, the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) issued an order to transfer the CO Violet Gomes which was again dramatically kept on hold.
 
Complainants want NOC given to the land developer and owner of the land to be revoked. CO
refuses
 
CO Gomes told the complainants that she has no authority to withdraw the NOC issued to the party without getting the details and valid reasons.
The party allegedly involved in the hill cutting has asked the CO not to withdraw the NOC. Land developers on the other side saying they have answered the show cause notice now it’s the duty of CO to allow them to carry out the job.
CO now wants the TCP to clarify
Sources told Herald that the CO has asked for detailed clarifications from TCP. In fact, TCP officers along with the local MLA and Municipal officers had recently conducted the joint inspection. Sources revealed that according to TCP officers the ‘development’ done is ‘as per permitted limits’. Locals fear that the council’s attitude shows that the hill will never be restored back and the developer will win in bargain and the natural beauty will be lost forever.
 “Why the elected body is quiet”, asks Dr Jorson Fernandes, a respected ENT surgeon and activist.  If council officials say it’s not their role or responsibility to protect our nature then why do we need them?”
The fight for the hill has also become a major elections issue with people asking politicians to take a clear stand on which side of the battle they are on.