5-star hotels within CRZ will go: Jairam HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 3 A statement which could ruffle many feathers in political and business circles, the Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh has categorically stated that all five-star hotels a

5-star hotels within CRZ will go: Jairam
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 3 
A statement which could ruffle many feathers in political and business circles, the Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh has categorically stated that all five-star hotels and vacation beach complexes constructed by violating Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) will have to face the axe in Goa.
According to Ramesh there are approximately 8,000 illegal structures in Goa as per satellite imagery pictures and he has directed the State Government to demolish them.
“There are 8,000 illegal structures. We carried out a satellite imagery of Goa. We have told the government that they must be demolished,” Ramesh told a national TV channel.
Pointing to the State Government’s plea to save traditional houses belonging to fishermen, he said, “I can understand the issue.”
“If there are fishermen and traditional communities, let’s think of ways of resolving this issue,” Ramesh said.
“…but I cannot understand five-star hotels…I cannot understand vacation beach complexes, they have to go if they are violating CRZ,” he stated indicating that any structure found in violation of CRZ will be proceeded against under the law.
The Environment Minister was speaking in reference to the Adarsh Scam in Maharashtra wherein 31-storey apartment block being constructed in the posh Colaba area of South Mumbai by violating CRZ norms.
When asked for their comments, none of the officials in the State Government were ready to comment.
However, an official on condition of anonymity only said “What the minister said is right but let me ask who gives permissions to five-star hotels? It is only the Ministry of Environment and Forest and not anyone else,” the official stated.
On the vacation beach complexes, he stated, “these are the houses of the traditional fishermen who have extended their houses to earn some money by renting these out. Do you expect us to demolish these?”