Margao: The Salcete Taluka Level Coastal Monitoring Committee conducted the inspections based on complaints filed
The Taluka Level Coastal Monitoring Committee which comprises of officials of Forest Department, Land Survey Department, Town and Country Planning department and Mamlatdar, inspected three sites in Betalbatim and Verna. Instead of multiple inspections done by different departments, this joint Committee at the Taluka level visits the site once and prepares a joint report.
In Betalbatim, the committee first inspected a site based on a complaint filed by the owner’s brother. The complainant did not mention any details of the alleged illegalities or details of illegal structures. The attorney of the owner of the site informed the team that they had only received a notice and not the complaint. He also informed them that the structures were constructed prior to 1991, that they have all the approved plans and that the motive behind the complaint was a personal dispute. The committee informed him to submit all the documents at the office of the Deputy Collector.
The committee then visited a 5-star hotel in Betalbatim followed by a site in Verna where an open-air hall is being constructed next to the Verna lake. The officials were not sure whether the site falls under CRZ. The committee measured the structures that were recently constructed and then met the owner and told him to submit his documents. The Taluka level committee was formed after the constitution of the South Goa District Level Monitoring Committee under Section 6 of the CRZ Notification 2011. Sources in the committee informed that the role of the Taluka level committee is to inspect the site., study the factual position and prepare a combined report. The Taluka level committee has to prepare their report within 30 days of conducting the inspection.
The first meeting of the District level committee was held on 10th September and the first inspection was conducted on 21st September.
