ORLIM AND BELABAI RESIDENTS OBJECT TO FIELD FILLING

The residents of Orulem and Belabai have raised objection over the alleged field filling carried out by a person in the land belonging to the communidade of Mormugao. Even as the people in the vicinity have claimed that the filling of the field is carried out illegally by a person, with the help of some workers, the same person has claimed that he has the relevant documentation to prove that the field is owned by him. He has also claimed that the chief town planner has granted him permission to develop the area, for the purpose of constructing a farmhouse and agricultural godown, on the condition that effective drainage would be maintained after filling up the area.
The former attorney of the communidade of Mormugao, Mr Ronny Colaco, alleged that the filling of the field is done illegally by dumping stones and boulders without prior permission by a lessee of the land.Mr Colaco informed that the houses located close to the field would suffer heavily during rainy season. “As the field gets flooded, the water enters into the houses nearby, making the life of the people residing in the vicinity miserable,” stated Mr Colaco.He pointed out that the open field in question is for the rainwater to gush down during the monsoons and if the mouth of the field is blocked by any means, it will affect the people and the houses nearby.Mr Colaco also said that the houses located close to the said field are existing for over 60 years and the government should see the interest of the common man, and thereby stop the person from filling the field.When contacted the ward councillor, Mr Manish Arolkar, informed that the people have lodged an oral complaint with the Vasco police station over the alleged filling of the field.“Being the councillor of the ward, I am having a responsibility to protect the houses of the people from any damage, whether it is natural or manmade,” stated Mr Arolkar.He informed that the locals earlier used the field for paddy cultivation and filling carried out by some person is a criminal offence under the law.He also called upon the person filling the field to produce the relevant documentation to the people and stop the illegal dumping of stones in the field.