PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to execute the orders of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) dated March 7, 2022 for demolition of all the illegal structures built in survey numbers 275/1-A, 1-B and 1-C, Morombi-O-Grande, Merces village before November 30 and to restore the khazan lands.
This order has brought an end to long and arduous struggle of Jose Oliveira and others from Merces, who had been fighting resolutely to save the khazans of their villages. These khazan lands belong to the village communities of the adjoining villages of Morombi-O-Grande, Morombi-O-Pequeno, Chimbel and Calapur, providing an incomparable economic engine that has nurtured the local communities for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, these critical khazan lands had been under severe assault from development, both planned and unplanned. On one hand, the government continues to encourage filling and conversion of large areas for construction of commercial and government buildings and highways, while unscrupulous persons are illegally filling equally large areas to build scrap yards, slums, and various other illegal businesses.
The fight against the illegal destruction of khazans was a long-drawn-out battle for the locals, having to fight before the GCZMA, High Court, National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court for over seven years, before eventually succeeding in getting justice, when the Supreme Court upheld the demolition and restoration orders of the GCZMA.
However, the demolition had been delayed for over a year, despite daily follow-up by Oliveira with the Tiswadi mamlatdar and the GCZMA. Frustrated, Oliveira approached the High Court again with prayers for early demolition and restoration, which were granted by the High Court at the first hearing.
The petitioner has now hoped that illegal structures will be demolished and the khazans are restored to their original glory.
