PANJIM: The government has filed a petition in the High Court of Bombay at Goa with regards to the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that stalled the implementation of the Beach Shack Policy 2019-22. The petition seeks court’s intervention to allow beach shacks pending completion of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
During the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Shack Owners Welfare Society on Tuesday, the government submitted that they will file a petition seeking relief for the shack operators as the tourist season is set to begin in 10 days. The Bench thereafter adjourned the hearing for Monday, September 30 when both the petitions will be heard together.
Later, at a press conference, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that they have filed a writ petition before the High Court on this issue
The shack association last Wednesday had pleaded before the court that NGT Principal Bench’s order will affect their business largely considering that tourist season begins next month. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Goa government and two natives of Kerala Mehdab and Girly John were issued noticed by the court seeking reply to the PIL.
The NGT has stayed the enforcement of Beach Shack Policy 2019-22 pending finalisation and submission of CZMP by the State to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Division Bench in New Delhi also declined State government’s request seeking six months extension to submit the report and instead granted time upto November 15 to finalise and submit the report.
