The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed shock over the Goa Coastal Zone Manage ment Authority (GCZMA) issuing show-cause notices to six private jetties oper ating in the State instead of complying with the Tribu nal’s order dated November 12, 2025, which had direct ed the Authority to proceed against jetties operating without valid permission. The Tribunal observed that the unauthorised oper ations ought to have been stopped immediately. In stead, GCZMA merely issued show-cause notices, there by permitting the jetties to continue operating illegally under the guise of following procedural formalities. The observations were made while hearing an ap plication filed by Dikshay Dattu Phadte and Ajit C Volo vikar. By its order dated No vember 12, 2025, the NGT’s Western Bench at Pune had granted three weeks’ time to the Monitoring Committee, headed by the Chief Conser vator of Forests, to file an affidavit. However, the affi davit was not filed. During the hearing on January 22, counsel for the respondents, Adv Shubham S Priolkar, sought one week’s time to file a reply, following which the Tribunal granted a last opportunity to the Forest Department. In its affidavit dated Jan uary 21, 2026, the GCZMA stated that it had issued show-cause notices to the operators of six jetties and had fixed the matter for hearing on February 26, 2026. It was further stated that the Authority expected the GCZMA, whose term ex pired on December 26, 2025, to be reconstituted by then. The jetties issued show cause notices include Oceannaire Jetty at Mal im; M/s Jetty Funcruise at Porvorim; Salid Fernandes Jetty; M/s Jubert Jetty, Brit ona; M/s Dharma Jetty at Penha de Franca and Cham pion Jetty at Divar.
Taking strong exception to the GCZMA’s approach, the Bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Sujit Kumar observed that it failed to under stand how the issuance of show-cause notices could be treated as compliance with its order dated November 12, 2025. The Tribunal noted that the jetties, admittedly oper ating without valid permission, ought to have been stopped forthwith. Merely issuing show-cause notices, the Bench said, had granted the operators additional time to continue illegal operations by taking shelter under procedural re quirements. While the Tribunal did not dispute the need to follow principles of natural justice, it emphasised that the foremost requirement was the immediate cessation of unauthorised operations. Accordingly, the Tribunal directed the GCZMA to ensure that the six jetties are not allowed to operate until they ob tain valid permissions, with immediate effect. It warned that failure to comply would leave the Tribunal with no op tion but to impose a financial penalty on the GCZMA. Affidavits filed by the Environment Department and the Chief Secretary on January 21, 2026 stated that jetties are recognised as permissible foreshore facilities under the CRZ Notification, 2011, and that Clause 8 of the Notifica tion regulates such activities without imposing an absolute prohibition. The affidavits referred to the constitution of a committee to prepare a “Comprehensive Plan for Fish ermen Community Living in CRZ Area”, clarifying that the draft plan contains only recommendations and does not have the force of law. It was further stated that the plan pri marily concerns the protection of dwelling houses of fish ing communities and does not prohibit the installation or operation of jetties. The affidavits also referred to the constitution of a Fish ery Planning Committee by notification dated February 15, 2021, tasked with conducting surveys and assessing fish ing infrastructure in coastal areas. The Tribunal has now granted the applicant two weeks to file a rejoinder to the affidavits and posted the matter for further consideration on April 1, 2026.
