Parulekar assures action if CRZ laws violated
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar on Monday assured the State legislative assembly that his department would take action against the lessee ~Paradiso Goa at Anjuna, if it has indulged in any fresh construction in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone.
Parulekar said that government has already evicted the earlier private entrepreneur and lessee of premises which operates as Paradiso Goa, over its failure to pay dues to GTDC. He said that same has been leased out to another private firm, which is currently undertaking some construction work.
The Minister was speaking during the Question Hour, wherein Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai informed the House that the High Court had directed demolition of Paradiso night club, which was leased out in 2002, for violation of CRZ norms.
Sardesai said that the new lessee has continued to carry out construction within the CRZ area and alleged, “Government is allowing illegalities to happen.”
Responding to allegations, the Minister said “if the construction is in violation of CRZ norms then we would demolish it….no permission would be granted’.
Earlier, independent MLA Rohan Khaunte brought to the notice of the House that there are several leased out premises of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), whose rents have been not hiked for last several years. He said that there are some lessees who have not opted for renewal, fearing hike in rent.
“As per government policy, the rents are hiked after every three years. But there are certain lessees who have continued functioning from their establishments without any renewals,” he said.
Minister assured the legislative members to initiate action against all such lessees and recover the dues. He also said that after every three years, the rent is hiked by almost 15 percent. “But now we are going ahead with a policy as per which 7 percent rent hike would be applicable every year,” Parulekar said.
The discussion was held during question hour, wherein St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate sought to know whether government premises including GTDC are leased out to private parties to which Tourism Minister replied in the positive. When asked, Minister said that there is no proposal to lease out Panjim and Mira Mar residences to private parties.
