Hill-cutting, encroachment stopped at Parra as locals call cops

MAPUSA:  An instance of blatant hill cutting and encroachment was stalled by residents at B Arradi,  Parra, in North Goa, when infuriated locals called the cops.

An eye-witness said, even the boundary demarcation marker stone was removed from the communidade property by the Delhi-based builder Harkirat Singh who has purchased the property from a local Parra resident.

According to social activist Benedict D’souza, who was instrumental in putting a stop to the illegal hill-cutting using JCB machines and excavators, “the builder had obtained permission for constructing two villas on the premises. But nowhere in the documents did it mention hill cutting or digging up of earth on a gradient. Further the builder had encroached into the property of the neighbouring owner, on the pretext of construction a boundary fencing wall. The workers on the spot told us they were constructing a retaining wall, but were actually levelling a hill-slope, which was not mentioned in the documents.

The local informed the local police, who arrived on the spot and stopped the hill cutting and other construction activity.

The builders staff were informed by the cops to get together all the documents and permissions within 24 hours and till then no activity could be undertaken at the spot. The JCB was impounded by the police, D’souza informed.

Singh or his representatives were not available for comment.