Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notice to the government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Goa Foundation seeking the demolition of the Grand Hyatt at Bambolim.
The PIL seeks recovery of the public beach at Bambolim claiming it has been illegally occupied by the hotel. Two earlier petitions filed by Goa Foundation challenging the legality of the constructions occupied by the resort were dealt with by judgements in 2014 and 2015.
The petition prays that the Court restrain the hotel and Grand Hyatt from any further use and exploitation of the premises for purposes of a luxury resort. It also seeks directions to the Town and Country Planning Department and the village panchayat to demolish the constructions which falls between the 50 to 100 metre zone from the high tide line (HTL).
Goa Foundation has also urged the court that pending hearing and final disposal of the petition, to issue an order restraining GCZMA from granting any approval or NOC for the project and instead treat it as a CRZ violation.
The notices, returnable in six weeks have also been issued to the Secretary of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Town & Country Planning Department, local panchayat among others.
