TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: A team of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) along with officials of Survey & Land Records will visit Agonda beach on Wednesday to conduct inspection of a certain coastal area, where controversial developments are carried out in gross violation of CRZ norms.
Incidentally, it will be a third inspection by GCZMA team after two initial inspections remained inconclusive.
According to a notice for site inspection issued by Member Secretary (GCZMA) Srinet N Kothwale, GCZMA is in receipt of a complaint from a person regarding alleged controversial construction/business activities by occupants, illegal issuance of house numbers, use of water and electricity connections within CRZ area in Agonda and named six persons including a close relative of a former minister from Karnataka.
The complainant further alleged that illegal activities are carried out by obtaining NOCs from authorities concerned on production of fraudulent documents.
“Inquiry committee of GCZMA conducted site inspections on April 25, 2014, and August 22, 2014, and the inspections could not be completed due to unavailability of Total Station Machine and also the said area in question is vast,” observed the fresh notice.
The GCZMA has directed to conduct site inspection on November 26 and has also asked the parties concerned to remain present during site inspection or depute their authorized representatives with all requisite documents/details if any, failing which inspection will be carried out in their absence.
Meanwhile, according to sources, following widespread complaints of gross violations of CRZ regulations, GCZMA team will visit Palolem and Agonda beaches between last week of November and first week of December.
The team is likely to conduct inspections of coastal areas, where permanent structures have spruced up without GCZMA consent and encroachments on government land (beach) within the High Tide Line (HTL).
Several locals have alleged that particularly at Agonda beach, not even minding the beach is a turtle nesting site, many private shacks operators exist right on the beach and many others are conveniently overstepping HTL to erect huts and shacks.
