SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Kundaim residents have alleged that a fence has been constructed in a private forest in the village in total violation of the South Goa Deputy Collector’s show cause cum stop work order.
The locals demanded immediate action as the contractor has constructed a fence by erecting poles for a mutt at Kundaim recently.
According to villagers, they had filed a complaint against PWD’s illegal work progressing in the private forest on Comunidade land in the village for a mutt without proper documents last year. Following complaints, the Flying Squad inspected the site and following which a show cause notice and stop work order was issued to the contractor.
The locals alleged that the construction of a mutt has commenced by cutting the hill followed by the construction of a compound wall on Comunidade land without following legal procedure. The contractor has carried out the illegal activity thereby violating the show cause cum stop work order from the Deputy Collector. The locals claimed that this illegal activity will lead to destruction of private forests and the environment.
They said that permissions from the TCP Department and the local panchayat have not been obtained for the work. The locals said the PWD floated the tender for the said work, however based on complaints, the Deputy Collector had issued a show cause cum stop work order following which a site inspection was carried out by the Flying Squad last year. The inspection had revealed that Illegal hill cutting activity was carried by the contractor and there was no board at the site displaying the permissions from TCP Department or any document/permission was installed at the site.
When questioned Kundaim sarpanch Survesh Naik said the Panchayat has written to the PWD seeking its reply whether the work carried out in roadside property is on the department-acquired land or in private property.
