It has been almost a year since our ex-CM Manohar Parrikar had announced his support for Calangute constituency. His outstanding efforts in establishing coordinated strategies with MLAs and other agencies had a substantial impact on some of the most serious problems local residences have faced for past several years. We now need a similar coordinated response with the Goa State Pollution Control Board with regard to Residential Hotels operations in the Calangute- Candolim coastal region.
There are over 150 multi-residential approved complexes in Calangute-Candolim operating under the shelter of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 for providing mass occupation of tourist without obtaining the consent to operate under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board discretionally and discriminately exercising their powers vested upon them in compliance of the directives issued by the National Green Tribunal by sending notices to small guest houses registered under D Category of Hotels while large multi-storied buildings having more than 140 bedrooms operating as Hotels/Resort for Tourism purpose are allowed to operate with impunity without obtaining consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
The GSPCB has once taken a drive in Calangute and Candolim Village to rope small premises operating as tourist guest houses. The objective is only to collect revenue from the small entrepreneurs. Land and house value is not considered of houses/land acquired under Deed of Succession/Will or by Inventory Proceedings/ or by acquiring rights of possession/ancestry etc. Land and House value taken as certified by a Govt Valuer whereas the multi residential units built in last 20 years are assessed to pay consent fee only by valuation done of one unit of the entire project and given a consent.
I request you to kindly issue directives to Goa State Pollution Control Board to exercise their powers without any discretion and not to discriminate with small entrepreneurs in tourism industry with that of more powerfully and influentially politically connected such as the Residential Hotel operators and corporate houses stake holders in tourism industry.
