THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The officials of the Department of Tourism and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) from Saturday started a joint demolition drive at Vagator beach but not before the High Court issuing contempt of court notices to the Director and two others.
Besides, the Director of Tourism, the contempt of court notices were also issued to Antonio D’Souza, the owner of the structure and Robert Coutinho, who is carrying out commercial activities in the encroached structure.
A part of the multi-level construction of a well-known hotel (Romeo Lane) was demolished during the drive. According to the official sources, the demolition has to be carried out as per the directives of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which is also hearing a contempt petition and has sought a compliance report on Monday.
It may be recalled that on December 14 last year, the High Court had directed the Department of Tourism to take immediate steps to remove the encroachment from the public beach at Vagator and to restore the land to its original position. The Court had further directed that the encroached portion be not used for any commercial activity till it is razed.
Since the structure was not demolished, Nilesh Phadte of Chapora filed a contempt petition seeking directions to the authorities to demolish the illegal structure. Phadte complained that Antonio D'Souza or Robert Coutinho neither stopped the commercial activities nor had they demolished the encroached portion of the structure.
The petitioner also complained that the Director of Tourism did nothing to ensure that D’Souza or Coutinho stop the commercial activity forthwith or demolish the encroached portion and that both continued commercial activity through the encroached and unauthorised portion without any action from the Director of Tourism.
The Court observed that the Director of Tourism did nothing from December 14, 2023, despite clear directions to stop commercial activities.
The Director of Tourism issued notices to stop commercial activities only on January 12, 2024, after the Court said and issued a show cause notice to the Director of Tourism as to why action under the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 should not be initiated against him.
However, Advocate General Devidas Pangam assured the Court that police officials will be deputed to the site and that all commercial activities will stop in the encroached portion which is ordered to be demolished.
The Court also impleaded Robert Coutinho in the petition after it was pointed out that though Antonio D’Souza was the owner of the structure, it was Coutinho, who was carrying out the operations by paying a rent of Rs 3 lakh per month. The Court has also issued contempt notices to both, D’Souza and Coutinho and has posted the matter on Monday, January 29.
