North Goa — The illegal hill cutting allegedly at the behest of ex-deputy sarpanch and panch of Arpora-Nagoa Village Panchayat Cleophas Fernandes for a road through the private property of the Jesuit community at Baga poses serious danger to the Xavier Retreat House collapsing, as the rains are just two months away.
The alleged perpetrator of the crime, Fernandes was arrested and released on bail by the Anjuna Police for illegal hill cutting and trespass into the property belonging to the Jesuits. However, long term plan to protect the religious structure is yet to take shape.
The Director of the Xavier Retreat House has made a fervent plea to the parishioners of Calangute, Arpora-Baga to bail them out of the troubled waters in view of the fast approaching monsoon.
Fr Ronnie D’Souza is worried about the danger posed to life and property of the Jesuits due to the illegal hill cutting. Incessant and heavy rains could lead to its collapse if the Government authorities and the contractor who lent his JCB machine to the local panch for the illegal act, do not put things in the right direction, reported Heraldgoa.
“The local panch has been involved in illegal acts earlier and tried to make a road by cutting the hill and forest which was forcibly stopped by us. He has been involved in illegal hill cutting through the Church property for his selfish interest. The local panch should be taken to task over the damage to Church property,” Anna D’Mello said.
Michael Lobo, MLA of Calangute said, “The law is not proper in Goa. The panch of village Panchayat of Arpora-Nagoa Cleophas Fernandes who indulged in massive hill cutting of the property belonging to Church authorities was just arrested and later released on bail. The hill cutting done at the behest of local panch is today posing a threat to life and property of the Jesuit community members at Baga.”
“The WRD contractor who lent his JCB to the Panch has disowned the responsibility so too has the the Arpora panch. The question is who will finally repair and get the protective wall re-done to save the historical retreat centre atop the Baga hill? The work on retaining wall protecting the Xavier Retreat House has to be taken up on war footing or a serious tragedy may be witnessed in the ensuing monsoon at Baga,” D’Souza elaborated.
“The Government authorities need to look into the serious problem immediately, as the Church authorities have no funds to meet the expenses,” the Calangute MLA said.
A resident of Baga, Jose D’Souza said, “In the name of retaining wall through the WRD department, the hill in the Church property was cut with the help of JCB engaged by its contractors. We are not interested in the blame game and this is not a political issue but a serious Church matter which needs urgent attention either from the WRD department or the contractor involved in the retaining works. An immediate solution is the need of the hour to save the Xavier Retreat House.”
Bardez Mamlatdar Shama Aronderkar and other officials had inspected the site on March 15, following a complaint by Fr D’Souza and the intervention of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
Arondekar confirmed having observed hill-cutting work, including the retaining wall meant to protect the Xavier Retreat House, besides damages to the huge rocks with the help of JCB.
“I will accordingly put up the matter to my seniors for necessary action,” Aronderkar said.
WRD Junior Engineer J Vinoo, the contractor’s supervisor, Arpora-Nagoa Deputy Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, Panchas Agostinho D’Souza and Sakharam Naik, Talathi Redkar, the Flying Squad members of State Election Commission and Anjuna police officials were also present at the site.
When contacted for his reaction to allegations of hill cutting and trespass into the Jesuit Community at Baga, Cleophas Fernandes distanced himself from the illegal activity.
“I am not involved in the hill-cutting at Baga Retreat House, but the WRD contractor was carrying out works on the retaining wall,” Fernandes insisted.