PANJIM, SEPT 6
The Bombay High Court at Goa has asked the State government to keep on hold shack allotment at Palolem beach after a petition exposing intense violation of norms by shacks was brought to its notice by a local.
The division bench comprising justices D G Karnik and M Reis passed the order in a public interest litigation filed by one Vikas Bhagat from Palolem, which stated that there has been rampant violation of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification while erecting the shacks.
“There is a complete commercialisation of the beach. The shacks erected right in the sea water is obstructing the free movement of the people,” the petition reads.
The State government in its reply stated that they will monitor the shack activities, which are violating the law.
The court observed that the erected shacks are not just along the beach but have gone beyond the high tide area.
The government has sought three weeks time to file its reply and has been directed not to grant any permission for allotment of shacks till then.
The petition has made Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, State government, South Goa collector, deputy collector and the mamlatdar, Canacona as respondents.
“It is the duty of these respondents to ensure that said beach is not encroached by shack owners. They have failed to perform their duties and consequently, liable to be directed to take action against such illegal activities,” the petition reads.
Through the petition, the petitioner has pointed out that in spite of being a small beach; it has been occupied by more than eight shacks thus making it impossible for the common people to go to the beach.
“The location of shacks is such, that the ‘public beach’ is been completely converted into ‘private beach’ by shack owners,” it stated.
The petitioner has also stated that liquor and alcohol is being sold on the said shacks without permission from the Excise Department, who has failed to take any action against such illegalities despite several complaints.
The petitioner has alleged that shacks, which are allotted by the government to the various persons, have been sublet to foreigners and others in violation of terms and conditions of allotment.
“Either an agreement appointing a foreigner as manager is made to camouflage the subletting or there is no formal agreement executed and upon inquiry, foreigners inform that they are the employees of the shack owners,” the petitioner said.
The petitioner submitted that there have been various complaints lodged by residents of the locality to the above authorities towards illegal activities carried out on the said beach.
