Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has issued demolition orders to Mackie’s Saturday Night Market at Arpora for operating in a No Development Zone (NDZ) in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.
At the recently held meeting, GCZMA observed that the Saturday Night Market, run by one Joseph Pereira, has illegally constructed temporary huts, stalls and permanent structures including office, dance floor, concrete structure at the edge of the tidal creek. The deck has been created through illegal land filling and land reclamation. The entire market is situated within 15mts of the high tide line.
“The authority concluded that the structures are constructed in NDZ area after 1991 and the same are in violation of CRZ notification 1991,” GCZMA said. The demolition order was issued under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 read with other enabling provisions.
The Authority has further directed the violator to restore the land to its original state and the deputy collector Bardez is to verify the demolition.
GCZMA also decided that since the structures are in NDZ area, no permission shall be granted for any activity or event in the area in future and in case any structure is erected, it will be demolished.
In April the structure was issued show cause notice following a complaint from social activist Kashinath Shetye, who alleged that the market is an illegal construction and in contempt of National Green Tribunal order on CRZ.
The site inspection carried out by expert members of GCZMA reported that the entire area falls under CRZ-I category.
