PANJIM: Irked by the careless attitude in acting against violations in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench has issued notice to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) while imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 per case, where action has not been initiated.
Observing that matters pending from 2015 have not been placed before the Tribunal by GCZMA and not listed for long, the Principal Bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr Satyawan Singh Garbyal said, “Helping the illegal construction has become the business of GCZMA”.
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NGT has directed its Western Zone Pune Bench to inquire as to why these matters being oldest of the Tribunal are not regularly listed.
GCZMA has been on the NGT radar in series of CRZ violation cases, for their “negligent” attitude, which according to the Green Bench is “indirectly” helping illegalities to continue.
The Bench was on October 7 hearing the matter of CRZ violations filed by Goa Paryavaran Savrakshan Sangharsh Samiti against various hotels. The matters have now been transferred before the Bench headed by the Chairperson, for a hearing on November 3.
The notice has been issued as “why the proceeding may not be initiated ex-parte against the GCZMA”.
Fawia M Mesquita, counsel appearing for GCZMA requested that GCZMA be provided an opportunity to file reply.
“The oral request is allowed subject to payment of cost of Rs 25,000 per case to be deposited by GCZMA to the account of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within a week,” the order stated. “The amount so deposited may be expanded for improvement of environment matters,” it added.
The Bench found it surprising that the Notification of 1991 and several orders of the High Court and the Supreme Court had not been complied with and the CRZ Notification 1991 has not been acted upon till date due to various reasons.
“It is surprising that the matter pending from 2015 has not been placed before the Tribunal by the Office and not listed since long,” the order stated.
NGT noted that in many cases, they see that old cases are pending and no action is being taken by the GCZMA and reply is not being filed and said it is highly objectionable and in violation of CRZ Rules.
“On the guise of this pending appeal, the GCZMA promotes only appeal, fails to submit the reply and continuously delays in filing the reply and thus, indirectly helping the illegal construction and this has become the business of GCZMA,” it said.
