AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
MORJIM: Destroy the environment and disappear seems to be the maxim of violators of environment laws in Goa. The GCZMA was to recover Rs 3,35,48,623 as fine from 104 violators but managed to recover “around 70 to 80 per cent” of the amount as the remaining offenders are “untraceable”, said Johnson Fernandes, Member Secretary of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
“I do not have the exact figures but am certain we managed to recover between 70 to 80 percent from the violators. We could not manage to recover the rest as the remaining violators are untraceable,” disclosed Fernandes.
Once the season is over, they are nowhere to be found and they do not appear to set shop again. There is nothing that can be done,” admitted Fernandes.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had in its order dated May 12, 2023 ordered for a compliance report from GCZMA detailing how environment compensation was to be calculated and levied on one hundred and forty eight violators who broke rules at turtle nesting sites at Agonda, Galgibag, Mandrem and Morjim.
The reports submitted by then Member Secretary, Sneha Gitte details how from the 148 violators – 86 in North Goa and 62 cases in South Goa - GCZMA could charge only 104 violators for environmental damage as the remaining were ‘not traceable’.
Documents accessed disclose that 30 violators were booked in Morjim and they were fined in total rupees Rs 1,10,10,819 (One crore ten lakh ten thousand eight hundred and nineteen); 32 violators were booked in Mandrem and in total, they were fined Rs 86,60,035 (Eighty six lakh sixty thousand and thirty five) and 42 violators in Agonda were fined Rs 13,87,769 (Thirteen lakh eighty seven thousand seven hundred and sixty nine).
“First, files go missing and now defaulters abscond. This is a joke and proof that most environmental violators are outsider and the authorities are hand in glove with them,” alleges Alegrina Fernandes from Siolim.
“If a common man is wanted he is brought to book immediately. So why the same yardstick cannot be used on people destroying our environment,” she questions.
The GCZMA Compliance Report to NGT under the sub-title ‘Nature of violations’ indicates that 15 units in North Goa had “High Volume Music System” and two units were found to be using, “high intensity lights” both prohibited around turtle nesting sites.
The 42 units in Agonda were hauled for the nature of their structures- most with concrete bases.
“Forget last year. This year, loud music can be heard from Chapora. I have sent emails to the PI, the SP and even the DGP complaining about the noise but I have still not heard back from them nor has the loud music stopped,” said retired Captain Gerald Fernandes, first wildlife conservation award winner.
“I am constrained again to report that loud music from the southern bank of Chapora River continues to be heard at Temb Vaddo, Morjim, Pernem, Goa which is at the northern bank of the Chapora river where the residence of the undersigned is located. May I request you to initiate suitable effective action in accordance with the law,” reads an email dated October 8, 2024 12:15:03 am IST sent by Captain Fernandes to SP North Goa.