VASCO: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) officials have decided to issue notices to petitioners at Katem Baina for a personal hearing next week.
The decision has been taken in compliance to the High Court order, which had quashed and set aside the GCZMA’s demolition order last year. It had further directed the GCZMA officials to grant personal hearing to the petitioners from Katem Baina.
It may be recalled that in May 2016, the GCZMA authorities had served show cause notices followed by demolition notice to 121 illegal structures located along the Baina beach under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 read with Rule 4 of the Environmental (Protection) Rules, 1986. Later, the affected parties had approached court with the plea that they were not given a personal hearing. To this, the HC had quashed and set aside GCZMA’s demolition order and had directed the GCZMA officials to grant personal hearing to the petitioners.
Speaking to Herald, GCZMA member secretary Agnelo Fernandes informed that after the court order on 121 hutments at Katem Baina, the GCMZA authorities had kept personal hearing on hold in view of Code of Conduct for assembly elections and now as the code of conduct is over, the GCZMA have decided to issue notices to 121 affected parties for personal hearing and complete the process.
“Due to code of conduct, we could not conduct a personal hearing of parties. However, now we have decided to hold the same soon and hence notices for personal hearing to the parties will be served next week and only after hearing the parties we will take any further decision on 121 structures at Katem Baina,” he informed.
