PORVORIM: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has ordered the Calangute panchayat to clear the remaining mud and rubble stones from the illegal road constructed on the southern side of Cafe Mambos at Baga beach within a month.
The order was issued after hearing the case at the conference hall of the Assembly Complex on Wednesday evening.
On behalf of the villagers, the matter was argued by Calangute Constituency Forum President Premanand Divkar and Vice-President Cruz Silveira. Former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira was also present for the hearing as a second complainant.
Panchayat Secretary Raghuvir Bhagkar was present at the meeting, but did not have much to say or argue on the matter as the GCZMA committee decided to give one months’ time to the local authority to clear the illegal road and reinstate it to its original status.
Earlier, the CCF had filed a complaint that the illegal road was constructed by destroying beach vegetation, sand dunes and the golden white sand of the world famous Baga Beach.
The agitated villagers held a public meeting on the site and demanded to remove the said road which was constructed illegally to benefit certain sections of the business lobby and hoteliers. People from Calangute along with the CCF had marched to the office of the Calangute panchayat demanding the removal of the road.
On the complaint filed by CCF, GCZMA conducted a site inspection and found that the road was constructed on the beach using mud and rubble stones and was in violation of CRZ guidelines. Later, GCZMA issued a show cause notice to the panchayat.
