Tensions high at St Inez over cross, builder held, released (ToI)

Tensions high at St Inez over cross, builder held, released TNN | Jun 8, 2013, 05.42 AM IST PANAJI: Tension prevailed in St Inez on Friday afternoon, after the land around an elevated cross was damaged causing an agitation by locals from the area. The JCB operating for a hotel under construction, near the road going to Altinho from the St Inez junction, excavated mud from around an old cross in front of the hotel. This angered locals from across religious communities, who felt the incident was a deliberate attempt to cause the cross to collapse in the rain thus clearing the area for the hotel. "People from all religions venerate at this cross. We do not want the hotel to disturb the existing communal harmony here," said a Hindu man present at the site. Officials from the Corporation of the city of Panaji (CCP), the North Goa planning and development authority (NGPDA) and the police department soon arrived at the site. Police arrested the builder Rajesh Shet under Section 107 of IPC to prevent breach of peace, since the incident concerned a religious site, and attached the JCB. He was later granted bail. The angry locals said that besides the mud excavated today, the hotel builder has also indulged in hill cutting behind the hotel premises without necessary permissions. They questioned how NOCs for construction had been given in the first place when the hotel did not even have adequate parking space. The hotel has also obtained sewage line connections without permissions, they added. Panaji mayor Surendra Furtado and a number of councillors arrived at the scene. Furtado said the construction license of the building had been revoked by CCP. "As long as I am the mayor, the CCP will not give an occupancy certificate for the hotel," he added. Former mayor Yatin Parekh said the location at the foot of the Altinho hill "was the wrong place for a hotel and no permissions should have been given." NGPDA chairman Michael Lobo visited the site and said, "The builder will have to make good the damage and build a retaining wall around the cross as the sentiments of the people had been hurt." He said the construction license for the project had been given five years ago. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tensions-high-at-St-Inez-over-cross-builder-held-released/articleshow/20487320.cms