However, only 17 face action, while the rest await replies on show cause notices or are pending before the committee under Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
This shocking information was produced on the Floor of the House of the ongoing Assembly Session by the Environment Minister Alina Saldanha. As per the reply from April 2012 till May 30, this year 637 cases of CRZ violations are reported of which nearly 80 percent (497 cases) are related to violations by hotel industries and building lobbies.
The maximum number of violations was reported in the constituencies of Calangute (150), Mandrem (106), Siolim (76), Benaulim (72) and Canacona (43). Except Benaulim, all the four constituencies are ruled by BJP, while Benaulim is with Goa Vikas Party’s Caetano Silva. Almost 70 percent of violations are in North Goa.
The violations include illegal construction of residential houses, commercial projects like hotels, shacks, restaurants, additional roof or rooms to the existing structures, illegal construction of retaining walls destructions of mangroves, erection of palm trees and others.
The question was tabled by Unattached St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate. Of the total 637 cases, the stop order and order to demolish the structure is issued to 17 cases, while in case of balance 630 cases show cause noticed are issued, the report of which is still pending with GCZMA or with local panchayats or collector.
The GCZMA enforces the provisions of the CRZ notification, 2011 issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), has in last two years issued stop orders in three cases, one case each in Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete. These are cases in litigation, pending before National Green Tribunal (NGT), High Court and district Court.
