PANJIM: Despite the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) issuing demolition notice to a compound wall of a crematorium built within CRZ-I and No Development Zone (NDZ) at Morjim in May last year, the GCZMA surprisingly conduct another inspection and stated that the area falls in CRZ III NDZ.
On May 13 last year, the GCZMA had ordered demolition of the illegal compound wall of a crematorium at Vithaldaswada, Morjim. Before the demolition order, the Traditional Fishermen of the ward submitted an application dated September 20, 2021, for repair and renovation of the existing Hindu crematorium.
Accordingly, the site was inspected by GCZMA members Nehal Devidas (engineer) and Vighnesh Naik (field surveyor). The inspection was held on February 28, 2023 wherein it was found that the plot was touching the High Tide Line (HTL) and that it falls in CRZ III (NDZ) as per the Coastal Zone Management Plan (ZCZMP) 2011. It was also stated that there were sand dunes and that the structure was temporary.
But during the 339th GCZMA meeting held on April 11, 2023, the Authority decided to defer the proposal as the applicant failed to produce /show existence of an old structure for which repair was sought. The meeting also noted that the GCZMA had passed a demolition order dated May 13, 2022. But till date the structure is not demolished, the villagers said.
Earlier, while hearing a miscellaneous application filed by the Morjim villagers, the High Court had observed that the village panchayat had already constructed a compound wall, shed and a platform to a public crematorium at Tembwada, Morjim, which is few metres away from the ‘Illegal’ crematorium at Vithaldaswada, Morjim.