Protection of the environment and heritage of Goa

Dear Sir,

Subject: Excavation and undermining of a range of hills protecting the ecology and environment of Goa

We have been agitated with the wholesale destruction and vandalisation of Goas protective ecological and environmental habitat. The ruination of this habitat along the rivers and estuaries will result in salinity, aridity of the best agricultural lands, flooding and submersion of villages.

We have been eliciting the cooperation of Parish Councils, temple trusts, panchayats, village social associations and the public to ensure that uncontrolled and indiscriminate licences given for building do not destroy Goa and Goans.

We heard that construction activities were taken up on a hill along the Mandovi river between Calvim and Carona. This construction has been taken up by Acron. We rushed to the spot and found that one excavator was at the site with trucks and work was in progress for laying deep foundations that would destroy the gradient of the hill and completely affect the subsoil ecology and the fragile structure of the protective hill that is essential for the livelihood and life of Goa. We were accompanied by the panches of Aldona Panchayat and we brought this matter to the notice of Mr. Alban Couto who rushed to the spot along with Mrs. Aurora Couto. We were able to see the papers, especially the express provision that permission for hill cutting and any sort of leveling of the slopes and undermining the ecology of the hill structure by deep foundations is not to be allowed and if any ancillary leveling is required, it has to be with the express permission of the Town and Country Planner. We understand the the Town and Country Planning have been approached by the builders for the necessary permissions/clarifications. The work has been stopped on the directions of the panchas, the Mamlatdar and the police who were able to stop any further degradation and undermining of the hillside.

We therefore urge the Town and Country planner to ensure that this desecration and degradation of Goas hill heritage is not destroyed.

An idea of what this is likely to cause in the destruction of Goa is given in the photograph of the site that was published in todays Herald, a copy of which is attached. A copy of this protest is also being sent to the Chief Secretary for his urgent consideration. We have full faith in the Chief Town Planner and Chief Secretary to uphold this just cause of protecting Goa.


cc: Chief Secretary, Government of Goa