Goemkapronn desk
CANACONA: Canacona Mamlatdar ordered to stop illegal Landfill works going on in the Khazan lands on the banks of Galgibaga river at Magdal-Galgibaga.
The direction comes from the Mamlatar-Jitendra Budge by personally visiting the site after the contractor continued with the illegality inspite of Talathi’s order to stop the illegal land-filling works. A large number of mangroves have also been chopped creating almost an environmental disaster in the serene area, considered an eco-rich river-bank.
As the owner’s contractor continued with the work inspite of Talathi’s ordered to stop construction works, Canacona Mamlatdar Jitendra Bugde, along with Circle Inspector Rohidas Gaonkar, area Talathi Shripad Pagi, Surveyor Narendra Agrasani visited and inspected the site and called the working – team to stop the ongoing construction activities. A large amount of mangrove trees have also been slaughtered.
The Mamlatdar team has seized shovels and tools used for the work.
When asked Mamlatdar Bugde, was informed no one is permitted to submerge or fill up the Khazan land. ‘The said place is at a strategic level and if soil or mud is filled up, it can damage the upper section and the property. Talathi had asked to stop this work eight days ago, but the landowner continued the work.
Locals informed that the local panchayat should have taken action as soon as they were informed about illegal hill cutting, soil removal, cutting of mangrove trees, and burning of khazan land going on.
“By panchayat’s mere non-action has emboldened and dared the illegal work to continue on a larger scale, stated a resident.
When asked whether the Agriculture department had given permission to fill up mud in the khazan land, Assistant Director of Agriculture Nagesh Komarpant, informed there is a proposal to prevent salt-water from entering some agricultural land under the Western-ghat scheme and certain conditions have to be fulfilled before undertaking the works to stabilize it. However, if it is to be done, permissions of the concerned departments should be taken. We had given conditional permission for such works and had validity till 31st March 2024 and now it has expired’, informed Komarpant.
When the Sarpanch of Painginim Panchayat Savita Tawadkar was asked about this, she said that no permission was given for this work. Forest Officer Anant Velip informed that the Forest Department has registered a case against the concerned for the destruction and mass felling of mangroves in the area.
It is learnt that Canacona Mamlatdar Bugde has completed all the formalities and sent the detailed report to the higher authorities for necessary action.
In the year 2009, two Canacona residents lost their lives in the unprecedented floods that saw several residential areas submerged in the flood water. Since the Galgibhag area is a flood-prone area, authorities are strictly demanding requisite permissions from various related departments before taking up any construction activities.
Still, keeping the local panchayat, Forest department and CRZ authority in the dark, illegal construction particularly land-filling and cutting of mangroves has been taken up and even partly completed along the river bank by filling the sensitive khazan land.-
