Silver Sands gets HC stay, action against 4 others on hold
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: In an unprecedented crackdown, the authorities cracked a whip against erring Colva hotels for violating sewage disposal norms by sealing seven out of the 14 hotels and restaurants on Friday.
One of the hotels, Silver Sands, later obtained a stay from the High Court on the sealing operation, even as the authorities kept on hold action against four other hotels and establishments on grounds that they were housed in residential premises. Another hotel is also believed to have obtained a stay from the High Court. The operation was carried out as per the orders passed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
A day after the March 6 deadline expired, Margao deputy collector, Sangeeta Naik moved into Colva early Friday morning shortly after dawn with a strong posse of policemen to seal the hotels and restaurants upon order of the district Collector. By noon, the team had completed the sealing of five hotels and restaurants, including South West Railway guest house and Silver Sands. “My team has sealed seven hotels and restaurants and one partially in today’s operation. Silver Sands later obtained a stay on the operation from the High Court. The de-sealing of the hotel will take place only after the Collector issues me an order. The four guest houses have not been sealed since I have sought clarification given that they are housed in residential premises. The election code of conduct has come into force and sealing of the premises will displace the voters staying in the four premises”, Sangeeta told Herald. She further said that the management of another hotel had claimed of having obtained a stay on the sealing operation, adding that she has not received any such order till late this evening.
Meanwhile, in a late night development, the authorities led by Sangeeta Naik de-sealed the Silver Sands hotel upon orders of the District Collector. The de-sealing was done at around 10 pm in view of the stay granted by the High Court on the sealing exercise undertaken by the authorities.
There was no untoward incident during the sealing operation. The Secretary of Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, Judith Almeida, who is a petitioner in the High court against rampant sewage discharge in the open drains and fields, was also present. This is the first time that the GSPCB and the
district authorities went to the extent of sealing the erring hotels and restaurants. Last December, the GSPCB had ordered the closure of a hotel at Colva, but then district Collector, ND Agrawal had declined to seal the hotel on grounds that it would affect the tourists putting up in the premises during the peak tourist season.
Hotel and restaurant owners cried foul over the GSPCB action. In fact, they claimed that they were never served any notice by the authorities and were told to close down their premises on late Thursday evening. Restaurant owner, Rafael Rodrigues sought to know what sin he has committed which has prompted the authorities to seal his restaurant. “We have been prompt in the payment of all fees and taxes to the authorities over the years. My family has been dependent on this restaurant. I was not told by the authorities that they would seal my establishment”, he said.
A staff member of Silver Sands hotel also claimed that the hotel was not intimated about the action till the eleventh hour. “We would have made arrangements for the tourists, especially the foreigners, if we were told in advance”, informed the official.
