PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday ordered demolition of remaining portion of a well–known hotel (Romeo Lane) which had encroaching on the land belonging to the Goa Tourism Department (GTDC) in Survey Nos. 213/4 and 213/5 of Village Anjuna, within next 15 days.
From the conclusions drawn by the independent Commissioner appointed by the Court, prima facie, it found that encroachment of 42 square metres continues to exist and that the demolished area on the northern side needs further demolition and restoration.
The independent Commissioner Jorge Noronha’s report was tentatively accepted and the Court asked the petitioner Nilesh Phadte and respondents Antonio D’Souza and Robert Coutinho to file any objections, etc, by June 11.
After the removal of the encroachments by both the respondents, the GCZMA and the Goa State Biodiversity Board have been asked to prepare a restoration plan within 15 days from the date of order. Such a restoration plan is necessary because there is environmental damage due to the illegal construction and the encroachment carried out by the respondents. The restoration will also have to be undertaken by both the respondents, once such a plan is placed on record by the GCZMA and the Goa State Biodiversity Board.
The report should also indicate the tentative costs for such restoration, so that both the respondents can be directed to deposit such costs.
The Court has also asked the GCZMA, to take assistance of the ISLR, Mapusa, and to demarcate northern and eastern boundaries of Survey Nos. 213/5 and 213/4 from the government land, so as to prevent any encroachment into the government land. The Department of Tourism should then place the appropriate boundary marks at the site, the Court said.
The matter has now been posted for further consideration on June 18.
