PANJIM: Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has resolved to demolish ‘Curlies’ shack and U V Bar on the Anjuna coast. A senior officer of the authority said the demolition order will be issued once the minutes are out.
GCZMA has acted based on complaints filed by social activists claiming that the structures fall in CRZ in violation of the environmental law. A senior officer said the board took the resolution based on blatant violations of the CRZ rules.
Curlies has been involved in a series of controversies, including having allegedly forged government documents and for not having necessary permissions to operate the shack on the coast.
Anjuna Caisua panchayat has been fighting a battle against the shack for the last few years for not having a valid trade license from the panchayat to operate the shack.
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPC) in February this year had sealed Curlies shack for not having necessary approvals from the board to operate the shack. The shack is operated by former Anjuna Caisua panch Edwin Nunes whereas the property is owned by his sister Linnet Nunes.
Curlies has also been accused of forging and altering government records to save the illegal structure from demolition. A case regarding this has been filed by activists at various agencies including Crime Branch and the State Vigilance Department.
A complaint has also been filed with the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) against government officers, including deputy collector and land survey officers, for having forged government records to help legalize the illegal structure. Investigations in this matter are pending before ACB.
Sources at GCZMA said the resolution to demolish the shack was taken at the last board meeting but it has not reflected on the minutes.
Welcoming the decision, Anjuna Caisua sarpanch Pratima Govekar said, “Let the order come first and then will see. I cannot speak till the order comes out.”
