Shock as govt approves Bambolim hill cutting
PANJIM, NOV 10 - In what appears to be a volte-face, the State government
has regularised the cutting of hill slopes at Bambolim by withdrawing 'stop
work' orders and the police complaint against M/s Goan Real Estate and
Constructions Ltd (GREL).
In an order issued earlier this month, the Town and Country Planning
Department has intimated all departments concerned of the government's
decision to withdraw the 'stop work' orders at survey numbers 95/1 and 96/1
in Bambolim village.
The TCP order also states that the government has decided to withdraw the
complaint lodged by the Agassaim police under section 17-A of the Town and
Country Planning Act, 1974.
This move virtually gives a green signal to the controversial GREL's Aldeia
de Goa construction project against which the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) and
environmentalists had fought tooth and nail for causing destruction of the
environment, particularly the hill slopes of Bambolim.
The officials from TCP have disclosed that the GREL had submitted an
application and affidavit pointing out that works undertaken at Bambolim
were prior to 1997. But section 17-A was inserted in TCP Act through an
amendment, after 1997, hence not applicable to it.
The officials further state that the government was apprised of the
application and arguments therein following which directions were issued by
the government to withdraw the police complaint and 'stop work' orders.
Meanwhile, a shell-shocked Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) over the latest
developments is chalking out a future course of action. Unwilling to
disclose plans at this juncture, Secretary of GBA Patricia Pinto said, "The
best solution is to take the matter to the aam aadmi's court."
Pinto rubbished submissions made by the applicant and expressed dismay over
the government's decision to regularise the hill cutting at Bambolim.
She said: "The change in land use accorded to the real estate company comes
under the purview of the Regional Plan 2001."
She further explained that RP 2001 very clearly specifies protection of hill
slopes. "Therefore no permissions can be granted nor regularization be
accorded," she emphasized.
GBA fails to understand how the government and the State's TCP ministry have
been allegedly hoodwinked into lifting the restraints, she wondered.
Ridiculing the government for withdrawing the police complaint, Ms Pinto
said that since an FIR had been lodged that the police should have been
allowed to complete their investigations.
"The investigations would have brought to light as to when the hill cutting
work was carried out," she said alleging that the GBA was certain that the
works were carried out recently.
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