Team Herald
By afternoon the demolition team had cleared maximum of the huge wooden bungalows which were built in the name of huts. The Champions Club has also destroyed sand dunes and built a shack on it.
The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday had ordered demolition of these CRZ and NDZ violations of hotel Champions Club in Cavelossim. The NGT has also slapped a fine of 25 lakhs on Champions Club for Environmental damage and another 25 lakhs for restoration of the dunes destroyed by the defaulter. The NGT has also asked to pay a fine of 2 lakh Rupees as a compensation for the petitioner’s litigation fees. The NGT has also directed the Government to proceed with criminal proceedings against the defaulters.
The Cavelossim Village Forum breathed a sigh of relief after many of the illegal structures of the Champions Club in Cavelossim were demolished after the National Green Tribunal order.
While we tried to speak to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority Member Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas he said “I am not the competent authority, ask Deputy Collector or petitioner about it not me”. The petitioner and the District Administration Authorities had a laugh after they heard Dr. Antonio saying this. The GCZMA has already been pulled up by the NGT for giving NOC to this Environmental hazard project.
Iris Passanha the President of Cavelossim Village Forum said “It is the total failure of the Authorities and mostly of the Panchayat of Cavelossim which doesn’t know their limitations and has blatantly given provisional NOC to Champions Club which is totally illegal”. “There is more to come. Cavelossim has several such illegal structures and we will make sure we get them cleared soon” added Aires.
Meanwhile it was learnt from sources that the legal advisor of the Champions Club Trust was calling on the authorities to halt the demolition for just a while to enable him to bring a stay on the process.
There more than 8 illegally built structures of Champions Club in these No Development Zones in Cavelossim which will be razed soon.
In the property of the huts a traditional water channel was destroyed and reconstructed by changing the course. Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority had inspected the site on 30th April after the Cavelossim Villagers Forum had put up an unrelenting fight against the project. Unsatisfied by the Panchayat and the GCZMA authorities the forum has succeeded at the high level.
