PANJIM: The officials of the Goa Coastal Management Authority (GCZMA), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the police on Friday started sealing 61 illegal structures used for commercial purposes at Girkarwada-Dando, Arambol.
Some of the establishment including guest houses belonging to the former Arambol sarpanch, who later resigned from the post after the High Court observed that the sarpanch and his close relatives had themselves put up prima facie illegal constructions and were operating guest houses without obtaining permissions from the GCZMA and the GSPCB.
The authorities stated that they will ensure that those operating commercial establishments at Arambol comply with all the applicable regulations and adhere to approved land use.
Last month, while hearing public interest litigation (PIL) suo motu on illegal and unauthorised constructions and writ petition filed by Ravi Harmalkar and Rajesh Dabholkar, the High Court had directed the government authorities to seal 61 structures at Girkarwada, Arambol which were identified as illegal during joint survey/inspection carried out by the GCZMA, GSPCB and the local Village panchayat.
The GSPCB in its compliance report had stated that 61 structures were operating without consent to operate and they will be sealed. It had also issued closure notices to 11 commercial establishments. The High Court has posted the matter for further hearing on January 17.
