Team Herald
PANJIM: Suspense continues over the reason why Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), ‘revoked’ the CRZ permission granted to the four-day Grape Escapade festival, hours after permission was given to hold the event under CRZ notification 2011, with directions to the organisers to be strictly complied with.
On Thursday, National Green Tribunal (NGT) stayed the wine festival following a complaint that the function is being held without CRZ clearance at Dayanand Bandodkar ground, which falls under CRZ-II. NGT directed the government to enforce the ‘revocation’ of CRZ permission.
As per documents available with Herald, GCZMA has not mentioned any specific reasons for revoking the NOC, only stating that a fresh meeting would be called on April 25 to decide on it. The meeting has not taken place till date.
The organizers, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, on April 18 moved an application seeking an NOC from GCZMA to hold the Grape Escapade at Campal from April 27 to 30. It said the NOC was required to obtain permissions from other authorities including sound permission.
On April 19, GCZMA Member Secretary Agnelo Fernandes in the afternoon issued a NOC for the event subject to the condition that ‘no permanent structures to be erected at the site and there shall not be any violation of the CRZ notification 2011 and the Noise Rule 2000’.
“Further you are required to abide by the guidelines specified under the beach carrying capacity report for use of beach or private areas in CRZ for wedding and other recreational purposes,” the NOC stated, clearly stating that the event site does fall in the CRZ area and the CRZ NOC is must. This is contrary to GCZMA and GTDC statement before Tribunal that ‘no permission is required for organising any festival under CRZ notification, 2011 in CRZ’.
In a series of guidelines issued to the organisers, GCZMA clarified that no activities shall be carried out in ecologically sensitive areas like sand dunes and designated turtle nesting sites. It had said that there should be a proper system of scientific garbage management, noise level within the prescribed limit, no alteration of natural resources.
“The permission is liable to be revoked, if it is found, at any stage that the application contained misleading or false information, etc and if any of the aforementioned conditions are found to be violated,” the MS said.
However, on the same evening, GCZMA Member Secretary withdrew/revoked the NOC granted for the event without citing any specific reason and said that the same would be discussed at its 148th meeting to be held on April 25 and the decision would be conveyed.
While, Fernandes remained unavailable for a comment, a highly placed source confirmed that no meeting to discuss the matter has taken place and as per CRZ notification, the area where event is held, is CRZ area and the NOC is must.
GTDC wants blanket approval for events at Campal
G
oa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has written to Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) to apply for ‘blanket permission’ from the government to host any event at Campal grounds.
“We have written to the Sports Department to apply to the government for blanket permission, for all types of events. Once it is done, there won’t be any additional task for obtaining permission for every single event,” he told Herald.
The move comes after the National Green Tribunal order that Grape Escapade be permitted only after obtaining CRZ permission. The order was based on a petition filed by Kashinath Shetye that the venue falls in the CRZ-II and as such, it requires permission.
The four day festival however began on Thursday and continued on Day 2 as well.
Cabral clarified that the corporation had earlier applied for CRZ permission but later withdrew, on realising it does not need such permission.
