PANAJI: Levelling of extensive tract of land near Old Goa’s iconic St Augustine’s tower ruin has caused a stir in the former capital. The local panchayat belatedly intervened and stopped the work. The clearing and digging activity had been in progress for some months, but local residents and the panchayat thought it was part of the expansion of the national highway at Old Goa. However, suspicions were raised after the work continued during the curfew period. “We inspected the site and asked for documents from the developer, but he had only approval from the town and country planning department that had expired some time back,” sarpanch of the Old Goa panchayat, Janita Madkaikar, told reporters on Friday. The site — a glaring red patch levelled after days of work — abuts the northern side of the national highway and overlooks the world heritage site comprising famous monuments. “The world heritage site has been ruined by this activity and the government should inquire into various aspects to find out how it happened,” panch and local politician Vishal Volvoikar said. A green buffer zone encircling the cluster of monuments has slowly disappeared due to haphazard development and highway expansion during the last few years. Repeated demands by heritage lovers for a master plan to regulate growth sustainably has not been heeded to by the authorities. “For now, we have stopped work at the site with the help of police,” Madkaikar said. Residents voiced concern about the flooding problem in the heritage area and adjoining places, as rain water flow last year was massive and had been impeded by blocked channels. The Basilica of Bom Jesus was mainly affected by dampness and seepage.