PANJIM: In another blow to the State government in as many days, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday ordered that the in-principle approval by the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) will not be a basis for grant of statutory permissions from the CRZ authority or local bodies. The High Court also issued notices to six private respondents who obtained in-principle approvals from IPB to develop projects in CRZ areas.
On Monday the High Court had directed the government not to regularise illegal constructions under the Regularisation Act until the outcome of the case filed by activist Kashinath Shetye. On Tuesday, the High Court ordered that permission from the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) and local bodies is must for investment projects.
The Goa government in its affidavit filed before the High Court had stated that in-principle approvals granted to projects in CRZ areas by the IPB are only to proceed to obtain other statutory permissions from the authorities like the CRZ authority or Panchayat. It further contended that these in-principle approvals should not be considered as the final approval and that granting or rejecting permissions in CRZ areas is up to CRZ authorities.
Opposing the government’s contention, the petitioner Goa Foundation contended that the in-principle approvals are in violation of Investment Promotion Act 2014 as the Act itself bars the government from granting any approval in protected areas. The petitioner pleaded that the in-principle approvals granted to six disputed projects be set aside.
After the hearing, the High Court ordered that in-principle approval granted by IPB will not be a basis to grant statutory permissions from the authorities like CRZ authority or Panchayats. The High Court also issued notices to six private respondents, who have got in-principle approvals from the IPB to develop projects in CRZ areas.
