The petitioner has demanded a stay on both projects.
In two separate public interest litigations filed by Goa Foundation, the division bench comprising Justices R P Sondurbaldota and Justice C V Bhadang issued notice to various government authorities, including panchayats, and the project proponents.
In the first case, Goa Foundation has challenged IPB approvals granted for the Mini India project at Quelossim. The PIL argues that there is a specific bar imposed on the IPB under Section 8 of the Investment Board Act which restrains it from granting approvals or recommendations for projects that are located in CRZ and khazan lands. “The CRZ notification of January 2011 in fact has declared all khazan lands in Goa as no-development zones,” the petitioner said demanding stay on the project.
The PIL informs the Court that a private party first attempted to carry out development in the Quelossim area. No permissions were obtained. All the work done was illegally. Thereafter, CGZMA filed a detailed report on violations and finally issued a Section 5 order directing the project authorities to remove all the illegal constructions including a 1 km long road, restoration of mangroves and removal of other illegal developments in the area. In response to both notices,
the party with a new name moved the IPB for clearance.
In another PIL, the NGO along with one local Jose Lobo, has challenged the operation of an aquaculture farm in Tuem on grounds that the farm was causing unbearable pollution of drinking water wells and paddy fields, and it was located on tenanted land in violation of the Goa Land Use Act 1991.
The PIL has been filed to cancel the registrations granted to the farm by the Central Aquaculture Authority of India, based in Chennai. The PIL also states that the aquafarm does not have the consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Both the matters are posted for January 10, 2017 for further orders.
