TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Environmental violations and inordinate delay in punishing violators dominated question hour Thursday after Opposition members grilled Environment Minister Alina Saldanha over Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority’s lack of staff and time taken to complete inquiries into violations after sending showcause notices.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, intervening in the debate, sought to deflect the blame saying that the GCZMA was a central body and the minister could not dictate to it. He, however, said that there were plans to acquire some 1.5 lakh sq mts to protect turtle nesting sites in the state.
However, intervening in the debate after the question raised by independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai over the 26 cases of CRZ violations in Pernem alone and the lack of action for at least a year after issuing show-cause notices, Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo brought to the notice of the House that there was only one person in the GCZMA who was conducting inspections.
“Is the minister aware that there is only one staff for North and South Goa?” he asked, forcing the minister to say that necessary posts would be filled up and a small inquiry committee has been constituted precisely for this reason.
Earlier Alina, acknowledging that prima facie there were violations… and action will be taken as per the law, said that there were 54 cases that were brought to notice and 8 had been disposed of.
The chief minister in his intervention said that the GCZMA is under the Centre and that there was a committee formed by the National Green Tribunal and they were waiting for the report to take action.
