Restore illegally filled paddy fields in 3 months, HC tells govt

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday directed authorities to restore paddy fields that were illegally filled and encroached upon at Guirim, Socorro, and Sangolda within three months. The HC took a stern view of the non-compliance with its orders during the hearing on Tuesday.
The high court in Aug last year granted govt six months to restore the lands and dispose of cases before the deputy collector of illegal conversion. Govt then sought an extension of time, which the high court granted on Tuesday.
“The high court, while granting an extension of time, made it clear that non-completion of these works will be considered disobedience of court orders. The high court also made it very clear that it will have to comply with its orders and restore the lands because these are eco-sensitive paddy fields that were converted and need to be restored,” advocate Om D’Costa, representing the petitioner Harihar Vithal Chodankar and Avertino Miranda, told presspersons after the hearing.
Chodankar and Avertino filed a PIL last year seeking protection, preservation, and restoration of these ecologically sensitive agricultural lands, which were illegally filled and encroached upon.