Team Herald
PANJIM: The Calangute Panchayat and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) have informed the Bombay High Court that they will be conducting an inspection of the property in Khobra Vaddo, Calangute where there were complaints of large scale clearing of beach-side vegetation.
The High Court had earlier appointed Adv Norma Alvares as the amicus curiae in the suo moto petition and had urged the State authorities concerned to urgently look into the matter and submit its preliminary response
On Thursday, the Calangute Panchayat informed the High Court Bench of Justice M S Jawalkar and Revati Mohite Dere that it had served notices to the proprietor of survey number 208/1-C, Khobra Vaddo, Calangute under Sections 64 (J) and 82 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
The panchayat further stated that the site inspection will be held on December 10 and that the report of the same will be submitted to the court on the next date of the hearing.
State’ Advocate General D Pangam said that the GCZMA will also inspect the said property for the alleged violation before the next hearing date and will submit a report to the Bench on December 16.
Locals had alleged that trees were hacked and vegetation was allegedly cleared in broad daylight for two days barely 50 metres from the beach on sand dunes at Khobra Vaddo, which is a No Development Zone of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
