PORVORIM: Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has called for the immediate disqualification of Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, accusing him of multiple environmental violations. During a discussion on demands for Environment, Law, and Ports Administration in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Viegas made a strong appeal to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, urging him to take decisive action under Section 8(A) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.
Viegas argued that failing to act against Ministers who violate environmental laws would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the rule of law in Goa. “What example is the Minister for Environment setting for the people of Goa?” he questioned, emphasising that if such violations are tolerated at the highest levels, it cannot be expected that ordinary citizens will uphold the law. He expressed particular concern over the pollution of River Sal, claiming that
despite being informed about the sources of pollution,
the Goa State Pollution
Control Board has failed to take action.
Viegas accused Minister Sequeira of violating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of 1991, which he noted is a punishable offence under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. He cited a specific incident in Chicalim, where a hill cutting operation allegedly took place on land owned by the Minister, supposedly justified by an artificial risk. Viegas demanded that the reclaimed area be declared a non-development zone.
“The violation is of change of land without permission and punishable under section 33 (3) of Goa, Daman and Diu Revenue Code 1968. Cutting of hilly land and low-lying land is punishable offence under section 17 (A), 17 (B), of Goa Daman and Diu Town and Country Planning Act 1974, and the violation for using a place without licence or altering, adding reconstruction or violating the Panchayat Raj Act is punishable under Section 228 C. All these come under the violation of BNS Section 62,” he said.