MARGAO: Pursuant to directions issued by the Bombay High Court and Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has directed Abhishek Engineers to immediately restore reclaimed land in River Zuari to its original state in consultation and under supervision of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) within four months.
The order, copies of which were issued to Mormugao Port Trust Secretary and Member Secretary Goa State Pollution Control Board and the South Goa District Collector for necessary action, refers to land at Dabolim.
“Take note that non-compliance of these directions or any delay in compliance of these directions will compel the GZCMA to take further action which interalia includes order of closure/suspension/demolition of the entire activity of Abhishek Engineers located in the property without further notice,” GCZMA member secretary Srinet Kotwale said issuing the order.
“Further you are required to submit a compliance report in respect of compliance of aforestated directions to the GCZMA every month and final compliance report within 15 days of expiry of the aforementioned four-month period,” Kotwale added.
GCZMA arrived at this decision after the matter was placed before it at its meeting held on July 6, wherein the authority after perusing records and documents and after discussion and due deliberation noted that there is land reclamation being carried out by Abhishek Engineers and hence decided to issue the directions.
The order was issued in connection with the Public Interest Litigation Writ Petition (PIL WP) filed by Chicalim Villagers Action Committee (CVAC) before the High Court of Bombay at Goa against the State of Goa and six others stating that despite the court’s interim order on December 1, 2014 mud-filling continues in River Sal.
CVAC were aggrieved by the alleged illegal reclamation of land and mud filling in River Zuari being undertaken by Abhishek Engineers and alleged inaction on part of GCZMA and other authorities. Advocate Nigel da Costa Frias argued on behalf of CVAC in the matter.
GSBB officials had conducted a joint inspection with Dr Antonio Mascarenhas, expert member of the GCZMA on March 7, 2014, and the report prepared by the expert member along with photographs noted various violations pertaining to CRZ Notification 2011 including land reclamation by Abhishek Engineers.
The site was also inspected by GCZMA Technical Officer Fletcher Fernandes on November 21, 2014 and the inspection report prepared also observed the CRZ violations.
A notice of personal hearing dated May 12, 2015 where Uday Naik, proprietor of Abhishek Engineers was present along with Advocate Gina Almeida, Advocate Zeller D’Souza appeared on behalf of Chicalim Panchayat, Rui Costa Araujo represented CVAC and Dr Nitin Sawant GSBB member secretary were present.
Abhishek Engineers’ main contention was that there is no reclamation being carried out at site. The complainant Rui Costa Araujo representing CVAC stated that there is reclamation being carried out over the period of time prejudgement of the High Court.
