Team Herald
VASCO: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday directed the State government to reply to the petition filed by affected parties to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) demolition notice.
The hearing has now been fixed on June 5, while the HC has directed to maintain status quo in respect to the demolition of structures at Katem Baina till the next hearing.
It may be recalled that deeming the 100-odd structures at Katem Baina as illegal and in violation of CRZ notifications 1991 and 2011, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on April 13, 2017, had issued demolition notices to the 100-odd occupants from Katem Baina.
It had directed them to demolish illegal huts/structures on Baina beach and restore the land to its original condition within 15 days time from the date of receipt of order, failing which the Deputy Collector Mormugao was directed to verify if these illegal structures were demolished and in the event if not as per the directives the Deputy Collector should remove the structures within two weeks and recover the expenses incurred from the concerned parties as land arrears.
Thus after receiving final demolition notice issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority , the residents in two different groups filed their petition before the High Court seeking relief from the demolition.
On behalf of 52 affected fishermen, Advocate Devidas Pangam filed a petition before High Court , similarly on behalf of 25 affected residents Advocate Nigel Costa Frias moved a separate petition.
Hearings for both the petitions was held on April 26, 2017 wherein High Court directed that status quo be maintained in respect to the demolition of structures at Katem Baina and kept the matter for May 3, 2017.
