PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday effectively placed the demolition of 22 illegal structures at Temvada, Morjim, under judicial watch, directing the Pernem Deputy Collector to ensure that the exercise is completed on July 17 and, if necessary, continued on subsequent days until every structure covered by the demolition order is razed.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Naik and Justice Hiten S Venegavkar issued the directions while hearing a contempt petition filed by Anil Prabhakar Naik, who alleged that government authorities had failed to implement demolition orders passed by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) nearly 18 months ago.
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Recording the statement of Additional Government Advocate Maria Simone J Correia that a demolition squad has been scheduled for July 17, the Court directed the Pernem Deputy Collector to personally ensure compliance. It further ordered that if the exercise is not completed on the scheduled day, the demolition must continue on the following day(s) until all 22 structures are removed.
The Court also directed the Deputy Collector to file a compliance report on July 22, making it clear that even if the demolition is not completed by then, an interim status report must be submitted.
One structure has been kept out of the demolition exercise as its owner has challenged the GCZMA order before the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Western Zone Bench in Pune.
The structures slated for demolition are located largely in Survey Nos 119/3 and 116/35 at Morjim, adjoining ecologically sensitive turtle nesting sites and falling within the No Development Zone (NDZ), where construction is heavily restricted under coastal regulations.
The action stems from a GCZMA order dated January 16, 2025, directing the demolition of the illegal structures and restoration of the land to its original condition. However, despite the order attaining finality in several cases, authorities failed to execute it, prompting the contempt proceedings before the High Court.
The structures include eight belonging to Dilip Morje, four owned by Krishna alias Vinod Raghuveer Pednekar, three belonging to Sadhguru Halarnkar, two owned by Sadguru Raghuveer Pednekar, and one each belonging to Chandrakant Halarnkar, Mohan Pandurang Halarnkar, Tukaram Satu Gaonkar, Kalidas Gaonkar and Trivikram Morje.
While one respondent, Sridhar Morje, has challenged the demolition before the NGT, appeals filed by some of the other respondents had earlier been dismissed by both the NGT and the Supreme Court.
The High Court also directed the Mandrem Police to provide full assistance to the demolition squad during the exercise.
The court’s intervention drew strong reactions from environmentalists and activists, many of whom said the order exposed the persistent failure of authorities to protect Goa’s fragile coastal ecosystem.
Petitioner’s counsel Adv Ankur Kumar said, “These illegal structures are situated near the turtle nesting site and within the No Development Zone (NDZ). Even the property owner cannot construct structures in these eco-sensitive areas. However, most of these structures are being used for commercial purposes, and that too without any permissions from the GCZMA. The government authorities, particularly Pernem Deputy Collector Shivprasad Naik, had failed to act.”
Environmentalist Pravin Shetgaonkar of Morjim said the demolition was necessary to restore the ecological integrity of the area.
“These structures are situated within the NDZ. Nobody should play with nature because nature has its own way of responding. Most of these structures were built by traditional fishermen and were subsequently converted into commercial establishments due to tourism activities, without any thought for ecology. Rather than protecting the beaches, these developments contributed to their degradation. The law has now taken its own course.”
Activist Desmond Alvares welcomed the order, saying, “Excellent job by the High Court. All illegal structures within the NDZ should be demolished. Unfortunately, the government authorities have been acting on their own, thereby forcing people to approach the courts for relief.”
Former Morjim Sarpanch and Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Dhananjay Shetgaonkar struck a more restrained note, saying, “This matter has been going on since I was the sarpanch. Most of the people involved are locals earning their livelihood. I don’t want to comment on it.”
