PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed to constitute a three-member committee to undertake the assessment of damage done by temporary structures along the turtle nesting sites, after the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) failed to enforce the recommendations of the Forest Department for preservation of these sites.
The bench observed that several structures in Mandrem, Morjim, Agonda and Canacona beaches have been constructed in the no development zone (NDZ) offending structures on Turtle Nesting site, destroying sand dunes and sand vegetation since October 2013. The Tribunal also noted that commercial activities commenced without permission of the GCZMA despite which the Authority is not performing its duty as a regulatory body to remedy the illegalities.
“We consider it necessary to ascertain the factual position by appointing a three-member committee comprising Deputy Conservator of Wildlife, Goa; Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board and Member Secretary of the GCZMA. The nodal agency will be the Deputy Conservator of Wildlife for compliance and coordination. The factual and action taken report be furnished to this Tribunal within one month,” the four-member bench of Adarsh Kumar Goel, SP Wangdi, K Ramakrishnan and Dr Nagin Nanda said.
The petitioner Goa Paryvaran Savrakshan Sangharsh Samitee had petitioned the NGT seeks enforcement of its order in 2017 based on its original application wherein the Tribunal had directed the GCZMA to take action against temporary structures constructed along the beaches of Morjim, Mandrem, Galgibag and Agonda without specific permission from GCZMA in NDZ.
Directions were also issued to the GCZMA to enforce the recommendations of the Forest Department for preservation of Turtle Nesting sites, and compensation be recovered by the GCZMA from those violating the above norms, apart from other incidental directions. However, the petitioner alleged that none of the directions were heeded to prompting the Samitee to approach the NGT again.
