PANJIM: The Goa Assembly on Thursday witnessed fireworks, after Forest and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, came in for sustained criticism, for failing to give “concrete” answers to questions raised on the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations, such that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had to jump into the fray in a bid to protect his minister. Parrikar announced that Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), being a statutory authority, questions related to it would not be tabled in the House from the next Assembly session onwards, further incensing MLAs.
The announcement triggered off chaos as Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai objected strongly, stating that the “government should shut down the Assembly if it wants to allow questions as per their (ministers’) wishes”.
Sardesai, who had raised question on CRZ violations, sought to know what steps the GCZMA has taken against these violations. He was supported by ruling MLAs –Michael Lobo and Nilesh Cabral, who questioned the environment minister over the denial of beach access to locals by some restaurant and hotel owners.
To this Alina replied, “GCZMA is the authority dealing with taking action against illegal constructions by the hotel units in the area and not to carry out survey to identify whether the access is denied or not”.
Alina’s reply failed to satisfy legislators, and in a bid to defend herself she said that “being a Minister she could not keep minute details of each CRZ violation case.” This agitated the legislators further.
As the situation slowly spiraled out of control, the Chief Minister intervened saying that the “GCZMA is a statutory body appointed by the Central government and apart from its administrative functioning, State government has no role to play” and “since State is not in total control of it, no assurances or firm answers can be given. Also we cannot issue directions to GCZMA.”
Alina, in her reply to one of the question raised by Congress MLA Digambar Kamat said that a total of27 cases of CRZ violations have been brought to the notice of GCZMA, out of which 17 cases were pending before the inquiry committee headed by retired civil court judge. Another three cases, in which demolition order were issued were challenged before the National Green tribunal (NGT), two cases have been referred back by NGT; in two cases demolition has been done; in one case demolition is pending and one has been stayed by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, bringing to the notice of the House that 26 CRZ violations had taken place in Morjim, Mandrem coastal areas, Sardesai sought to know what action was initiated against two restaurants – Sunset Ashram and Hotel Blue Waves, both allegedly in violation of the CRZ and one constructed on a turtle nesting site. The Minister in reply said that the GCZMA inquiry committee is inquiring into the Sunset Ashram case, while the demolition order issued to Hotel Blue Waves has been stayed by NGT.
With Alina coming in for sustained criticism, for failing to give concrete answers, Chief Minister Parrikar had to jump into the fray in a bid to protect his minister
