PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday reserved its order
in regards to public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the government
approvals granted to Gold Course resort project of Leading Hotels Limited at
Tiracol, for February 20.
The arguments on the PIL filed by Goa Foundation, Tiracol
tenants and mundkar association and others, concluded today with division bench
comprising of Justice FM Reis and Justice Nutan Sardessai reserving its order
for Monday, next week.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The High Court had in July 2015 granted interim stay on the
project, while allowing developers-Leading Hotels to construct two model villas
in an area of around 700 sq mtrs.
The petitioners had filed a fresh PIL in July 2015 to the
December 2014 PIL against the project. The petition was based on what they
claim to be fraudulent change of land from agriculture to non-agriculture land.
The December 2014 petition filed by St Anthony Mundkar and
Tenants Association was seeking for resolution of tenancy matters and calling for
a stop to work on the project. Following the petition, Government had appointed
one man inquiry commission headed by IAS Sandip Jacqus to study whether the
land, acquired for the project was tenanted. The Committee submitted report in
favour of tenants and informed that the land was tenanted and agricultural.
In April 2013, the State Environment Impact Assessment
Authority (EIAA) had granted environment clearance (EC) for setting up an
18-hole PGA, gold course and eco tourism resort at Tiracol village in Pernem,
which has been proposed to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.
In June, pollution board granted consent to operate and in December 2012, CRZ
clearance was obtained for the project.
