Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major setback to BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has issued demolition orders to Nazri Beach Resort to demolish part of its structure illegally constructed in violation of CRZ norms. Lobo is a partner of Nazri Beach Resort in Calangute.
In a separate notice, GCZMA also issued demolition orders to Thalasa Resort in Anjuna to demolish part of its structure which is in violation of CRZ/NDZ areas.
GCZMA, in both cases, said the demolitions be carried out and land be reverted to its original form, within 15 days of receiving the notices.
Activist Kashinath Shetye had complained against the illegal construction of the mega project in Calangute in land under Survey No. 319/2, 3, 5, 7 and 12 in alleged contravention of CRZ notification 2011 and without obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
At the GCZMA meeting held on March, 27, 2018, the authority had heard both parties and had decided to issue necessary documents such as site inspection reports and other relevant documents and further decided to take up the matter in the next meeting.
In the meeting held recently, Shetye submitted that the permission issued by the earlier member secretary was forged. He had also submitted that environmental damage had happened due to the illegal construction along the beach line after which the respondent inter alia submitted that the structure is beyond 500mts HTL acted upon demarcation done by GCZMA. Further he also stated that the tidal effect had changed and HTL had shifted over a period of time.
Lobo, when contacted said, “Earlier, GCZMA had alleged that our entire resort was in the CRZ and now they are saying that one portion of the resort is in the CRZ. Their earlier letter shows that we are beyond CRZ. Every member secretary who comes is of a different opinion. GCZMA itself is confused. We will file a review petition in the GCZMA and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).”
In terms of Thalasa resorts, the site was inspected by GCZMA expert members and the inspection report submitted contained various observations depicting violation of CRZ notification, that is the structures erected of temporary and permanent nature at the site cover up almost the whole plot area which accounts for more than 33 per cent of the plot area and are in contravention to the carrying capacity report.
Similarly, the erected structures occupying more than 33 per cent of plot area indicated violation and the violator had encroached in the other plot without obtaining the permission of the land owner.
Shetye said, “I have fought really hard to get this demolition order of Nazri Beach Resort, Calangute and Thalasa Resort, Anjuna. I had to approach National Green Tribunal (NGT) and they have directed that a forgery was undertaken by the GCZMA member secretary.”
He added, “I feel that judgments like this should be fast. GCZMA is not taking any action and hence we are forced to approach the High Court and NGT. Although, I don’t think that the structures will be demolished. Earlier two similar matters have still been held in abeyance.”
