TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Colva hotel closure episode took a new twist on Wednesday with the District Collector N D Agrawal pushing the ball in the court of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, prompting the Board Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha to express shock over the attitude of the Collector.
In fact, Agrawal has sought guidance from the GSPCB on how to go about the closure of the Silver Sands Beach Resort since the hotel is being occupied by guests, mostly by charter tourists. “Out of the 60-odd rooms, 43 rooms of the hotel are being occupied by guests, mostly charter tourists. I have asked the GSPCB for guidance because there may be a law and order issue as the guest may demand alternate accommodation. I am sending a formal letter to the GSPCB on the issue and would wait for the reply before initiating action”, Agrawal told Herald.
A visibly upset Noronha, however, expressed shock and surprise over the attitude of the District Collector. “Collector’s lame-duck excuse cannot be accepted. The Board had issued directions to the District Collector on December 6 to comply with the closure of the hotel within seven days. And, today, the Collector has told my official that he will seek guidance on the matter”, a furious Noronha told Herald, while expressing his helplessness since the Board has no wherewithal to enforce closure orders.
The GSPCB had on December 6 issued directions to Silver Sands hotel to close down for violating the Water and Air Acts accusing the hotel of environmental degradation and pollution of environment in its vicinity. Sources said that District Collector initially told the GSPCB Chairman that his office could not seal the hotel since he was on leave when the closure was passed by the Board.
Accordingly, GSPCB had faxed the order to the District Collector’s office on Monday after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar personally sought to know the status of the order passed by the Board.
Collector’s lame-duck excuse cannot be accepted. The Board had issued directions to the Collector on Dec 6 to comply with the closure of the hotel within seven days. And, today, the Collector states he will seek guidance on the matter
