The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to submit its site inspection report on a bar and restaurant allegedly operating illegally in the No Development Zone (NDZ) at Calangute.
The directive came in response to a writ petition filed by Alex Fernandes, a resident of Calangute, alleging that the bar and restaurant are being run in an unauthorised structure within the NDZ.
Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Athnain Naik argued that the structure is illegal and requested the Court to order the sealing of the establishment during the pendency of the writ petition.
According to the petitioner, the business is being operated by a member of the Calangute panchayat, who has been named as one of the respondents in the case.
During the hearing, GCZMA counsel Geetesh Shetye informed the Court that the authority had taken cognisance of the complaint and that the Member Secretary of GCZMA had already issued a notice for a site inspection. The inspection is scheduled for August 21, Shetye said.
Following these submissions, the Division Bench comprising Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita P Mehta adjourned the matter to September 8, and directed the GCZMA to place the site inspection report on record before the next hearing.