PANJIM: Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Monday issued demolition show cause notices to occupants of 155 houses at Baina beach as the structures have been erected in the No-Development Zone (NDZ) in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications 1991 and 2011.
The occupants have been granted 15 days to reply to the notice with relevant documents that could be construction or reconstruction or repair licences or approvals issued by the concerned authorities including permission granted by GCZMA along with an approved plan, failing which the hutments would be demolished.
This decision was taken at the GCZMA meeting of July 1. “The Authority after detailed discussion and due deliberation noted that the structures are erected on the beach ie in the inter-tidal area and NDZ area and such an activity is not permissible under the CRZ Notification 1991/2011 and as such decided to issue show cause notices under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and other enabling provisions read with Rule 4 of the Environment (Protection Rules, 1986) to all the parties/owners of the existing hutments along the Baina beach,” the minutes of the meeting say.
“The Authority further decided that in case any party fails to file their reply with relevant documents in support of their case within 15 days, the Authority shall proceed to issue final directions under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to demolish the structures and restore the land to its original,” GCZMA said.
GCZMA has said that the notice have been issued following a letter from the South Goa Additional collector and deputy collector Mormugao, who raised the possibility of houses erected on sand bars getting washed away due to a rise in sea water and rough seas accompanied by cyclonic winds at Baina. It is also reported that there has been sand erosion in the area and that the huts are existing on sand bars which are government property and in violation of all rules and regulations.
The South Goa Collector and Mormugao Deputy Collector had issued 205 orders to occupants of the illegal hutments to vacate the structures. Accordingly 50 huts were demolished last month.
Some occupants had approached the High Court that had granted relief by maintaining the status quo on the matter and directing the collector to hear the affected parties. The occupants were directed to produce the documents before the concerned
