PANJIM: The environment clearance for one of the most controversial projects ever in Goa, the Tiracol golf course and villa project, was cleared by the Environment Ministry, even as those fighting for tenancy rights have gone to the High Court against the order of a Deputy Collector declaring the Tiracol lands to be tenancy free.

The Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)  ministry cleared the project officially named as “Golf Course and Eco Tourism Resort project by Leading Hotels Ltd in Tiracol, Pernem”, following a recommendation from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) in July on October 11.

The project proponent had submitted a fresh proposal in December 2016 for development of an 18-hole golf course and an eco tourism resort at Tiracol. The total plot area is 244.6 acres that is 99 ha to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 505 crore.

“The project proponents clarified that there is no difference on the proposals for which the earlier EC was issued and that the micro and macro project configuration remains the same,” the Ministry said, while pointing out that the EC granted by the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on April 12, 2013 was kept in abeyance for four months following direction from National Green Tribunal in November 2016. NGT had asked SEIAA to freshly appraise the project for grant of EC. 

The project proponents during a meeting before EAC in July had clarified that the only issue under consideration of the NGT was the propriety of grant of EC by the Goa SEIAA on recommendation of the State Environment Assessment Committee (SEAC) 

that no environmental issues were raised or discussed before the NGT.

“The issue related to a CRZ clearance was also discussed and it was clarified that a CRZ clearance has already been obtained from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). Under the circumstances the present appraisal is being made only from the point of view of an Environmental Clearance and the revalidation of the earlier EC is being examined,” Ministry noted. 

The Ministry in January 1, had granted fresh Terms of Reference (ToR) to the project and accordingly an application for EC was made in compliance with ToR on March 3, this year.

The project proponents have been directed to seek all required permissions from the concerned state agencies including prior permission from the forest for felling of trees.

Land has been converted to nonagricultural by the Collector-North Goa. The resort will be built on nonagricultural land. The proposed resort consists of 128 standard villas, 60 premium villas and an US PGA standard championship golf course spread over a built-up area of around 95,000 sqm.