PANJIM: The Vainguinim Valley Residents Association (VVRA) has insisted that whatever action has to be taken regarding the linear wall that was constructed on Vainguinim Beach, should be on the basis of the show cause notice that was already issued on April 28, to the hotel that carried out the said construction.
It may be recalled that the High Court too has asked the authorities such as the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to take action based on the inspection that had been carried out by GCZMA on April 23.
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VVRA was responding to the request made by the hotel to GCZMA for a fresh inspection to be carried out at the GCZMA hearing that took place on Thursday, based on the April 28 show cause notice.
“The show cause notice cannot be dropped/withdrawn at the whims and fancies of the parties and has been sought by the respondent with the given facts and records that the respondent has deliberately avoided and refused to accept the notice of site inspection, which was communicated and brought to the notice of the village panchayat of Taleigao on April 22,” said VVRA in its submission to the GCZMA on Friday.
The VVRA also attached a copy of the inspection report of the Taleigao Panchayat that had been jointly carried out the inspection with GCZMA on April 23.
“It is clearly recorded that the notice of inspection dated April 21, issued by the Village Panchayat of Taleigao was communicated and brought to the notice of the respondent at 4 pm on April 22 but was not accepted despite the official of the village panchayat waiting for one hour to serve the respondent a notice of the said inspection, as such it was wilful and deliberate refusal on the part of part of the respondent to accept the notice of the inspection,” the VVRA stated.
“As such, the preliminary objections of the respondents have to be termed as being without merit for wilfully refusing to accept the notice of the site inspection held on April 23 and it is respectfully submitted that the records have been placed before the High Court in the written petition as well as the records placed before this authority. It is evident that there is due compliance with the principles of natural justice and therefore the show cause notice be adequately proceeded with,” the VVRA added.
If in the event, another inspection is scheduled, the VVRA will demand that the entire proceedings are videographed, that the GCZMA expert committee members, who were a part of the April 23 inspection are present and that the inspection is held in the presence of all parties.
The locals pointed out that the local authority like the Taleigao Panchayat had not granted permissions.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Nilesh Carbal has assured to study the matter.
