It is surprising that almost three days after the expose, there has been no police complaint yet. The Corporation of the City of Panaji, the Town and Country Planning Department and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority seem to have gone into a deep slumber.
The GCZMA, which is otherwise very active to erase ordinary people’s houses, has failed to take cognizance and has tactfully ignored the illegalities.
Why has the CCP not filed an FIR yet? Why is Mr Rohit Monseratte, the Mayor of Panaji, not willing to take legal action to the destruction? Simply because the allegations are against his father?
It is also shocking to understand that the same route is being used by the Monseratte’s every day – Babush Monseratte, Jennifer Monserrate and Rohit Monseratte and the destruction can be seen openly.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
It is sad to know many trees, including mangroves, were cut at Caranzalem just opposite the New Taj Vivanta, on the Miramar Dona Paula highway.
The activists and Opposition parties have alleged that the destruction has been done with the knowledge of Panaji MLA Babush Monseratte, who is also the chairman of GPPDA.
A day after allegations by activists and politicians, all political parties, the CCP jostled to carry on a plantation drive, which can be termed nothing less than the election stunt.
Babush Monseratte’s former aide Uday Madkaikar has been at the forefront of this movement. However, one is at the loss of words why he did not speak out about Taleigao field destruction and hill cuttings. It seems like nothing less than political opportunism.
It is surprising that almost three days after the expose, there has been no police complaint yet. The Corporation of the City of Panaji, the Town and Country Planning Department and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority seem to have gone into a deep slumber.
The GCZMA, which is otherwise very active to erase ordinary people’s houses, has failed to take cognizance and has tactfully ignored the illegalities.
Why has the CCP not filed an FIR yet? Why is Mr Rohit Monseratte, the Mayor of Panaji, not willing to take legal action to the destruction? Simply because the allegations are against his father?
It is also shocking to understand that the same route is being used by the Monseratte’s every day – Babush Monseratte, Jennifer Monserrate and Rohit Monseratte and the destruction can be seen openly.
Also, the palatial bungalow of the Monsertte’s and their two hotels are only a few meters away from where the illegal cutting has taken place.
So how come the CCP mayor, the minister for Revenue, and the chairman of GPPDA have not seen the destruction.
For Monseratte’s this is nothing new; ever since Babush has been elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly, it has become a common phenomenon. The Dona Paula Plateau, the Nagali hills the Taleigao fields have all been destroyed in the name of development.
Shockingly, none of the NGO’s and activists has raised their voice against the destruction.
The poor farmers are still protesting against the illegal landfilling for a new panchayat building in Taleigao. Apart from Cecille Rodrigues, and few others have supported the poor farmers.
The Miramar-Caranzalem stretch has suffered as in the name of development and tourism a lot of destruction of trees, sand dunes and mangroves have taken place which are our first line of defence against the sea erosion, cyclones etc.
Instead of the drama of plantation drives, the government must first file the FIR to bring the culprits to book.