MARGAO: In an order connected to the encroachments in River Zuari, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) ordered that over 4,000 square metres of encroached river land in Curtorim be restored and that the cost of the restoration work should be borne by the offender.
However, according to the complainant, Judith Almeida, the GCZMA did not impose environmental costs as per an earlier order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the ‘Polluter Pays Principle and she questioned how selective GCZMA can be when it comes to imposing such costs.
It may be recalled that a complaint about these violations had been filed in 2016.
It was later determined by the GCZMA that the offender had not only illegally filled water bodies but that he had also carried out illegal constructions in the riverine area of River Zuari.
Thereafter, the GCMZA had issued orders for the demolition of these illegal structures but it was found recently that these orders had not been executed as the offender had not carried out the restoration of the illegally filled area.
Following its own investigation, GCZMA directed the offender to remove the encroachments in River Zuari and the landfilling in three survey numbers of Curtorim village.
The quantity of the area, 4,207 sq mts, was measured by the Inspector of Survey and Land Records, (ISLR), Margao. The ISLR also instructed to mark the (No-Development Zone), which was subsequently cited as proof of the illegal landfilling.
Furthermore, an expert member of the GCZMA also submitted various reports to the GCZMA to confirm that landfilling and encroachments had been carried out at the site.
Against that backdrop, the GZMA directed that the work of restoring the land to its original condition within 2 months’ time should be done by the offender under the supervision of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), Captain of Ports (CoP) and a GCZMA expert member.
“Cumulatively, the Google images on record, letter of ISLR to CoP and various inspections only fortify that there has been blatant encroachment of riverine area and landfilling in Curtorim. The respondent has failed to prove his case and provide any justice through documents or otherwise for the said blatant encroachment of the riverine area of River Zuari and landfilling,” said GCZMA.
While the offender had informed GCZMA that no landfilling had been carried out and that the area was just an existing protective bundh, GCZMA said the offender did not agree with his submission.
