Team Herald
MARGAO: The Cavelossim Villagers Forum has lamented that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has not even inspected a hotel, till date in compliance with the National Green Tribunal order dated July 4, 2019.
The forum’s contention is that they had moved the NGT after all authorities including the panchayat, GCZMA and even the Goa State Pollution Control Board refused to take cognizance of their complaint against the hotel for having constructed a new sewage treatment plant in the No Development Zone area which is beyond the premises of their hotel.
The Forum pointed out that the Health Services in their permission had very clearly stated that no effluents should discharged outside the hotel premises. However, the Forum said, the plant erected by the hotel in 2017 is on a sand dune outside the hotel premises and within the no development zone.
Admitting that part of the STP is within the no development zone, the report submitted by the authorities to the NGT ironically states that they are not aware if it is the old STP that is repaired or a new one constructed.
Hence the NGT directed both the GCZMA and GPCB to inspect the site and take action if necessary. The Forum lamented that though the order was passed on July 4, the authorities have not even come for an inspection.
Admitting that the authorities will have to report what action they have taken on the next date of hearing on September 5, the Forum appealed to both the agencies to at least carry on the site inspection and further asked that the hotel be penalized under Section 5 of the Environment Pollution Act 1986.
