QUEPEM, April 6 -- Gauresh Sattarkar

Despite the show cause notice and stop work order issued by the Deputy Collector South I, "unauthorised" hill cutting and land filling activities have resumed in Sirvoi-Quepem, causing considerable distress among local residents.

Prashant Naik Dessai, a member of Save Goa BioDiversity, told O Heraldo that these illegal activities are underway at two locations, specifically in Survey Nos. 62/3-A and 122/1C in Sirvoi.

He alleged that the hill cutting is being carried out with the backing of the some government departments and the local panchayat.

He said, "The High Court of Bombay at Goa had ruled against converting agricultural land into settlement zones and had directed the panchayats, mamlatdars, ...