MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has initiated action to address the pending demolition of illegal structures in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas.
This matter took centre stage during the Minister’s review meeting at the South Goa District Collectorate, where discussions with officials, including Secretary, Revenue and Law, Sandeep Jacques, highlighted the need for execution of the orders. Sequeira emphasized that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is committed to providing funds for the Demolition Squad to carry out the orders.
GCZMA has agreed in principle to allocate funds for the execution of court-issued demolition orders, including those from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Acknowledging delays due to funding constraints, Sequeira underscored that the GCZMA aims not only to execute the demolitions, but also to recover costs from the involved parties. Despite a few pending orders, he cited a recent execution in Sernabatim, Colva village, expressing confidence that the pending orders will be cleared once the system is in place.
At this meeting, the Minister also addressed the challenge of 2,000 pending cases seeking regularization of unauthorized structures. In discussions with senior bureaucrats, a system was proposed to expedite the disposal of this substantial backlog.
