PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has called out the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for granting permission to a resort in the no development zone (NDZ) at Agonda village in Canacona taluka.
The NGT bench noted that the construction which has been allowed does not fall in the category of temporary constructions, which is permitted in CRZ areas as per the CRZ notification 2011 amendment, but the proposed construction is in the category of permanent structures.
“It is very strange that GCZMA has permitted the constructions almost of the same kind to be raised on the same pieces of land. We hold that the permission for raising the impugned construction could not have been given, as the same being NDZ,” the bench said.
The bench was hearing an appeal filed by Alchemist Asset Company Ltd, which challenged GCZMA permission granted to M/s Costeiro Azul Resort in Survey No 101/1 (part) and Survey No 101/3 (part) at Agonda.
Interestingly, the GCZMA had demolished the structure, constructed by the applicant, on the same land, terming it illegal and located in NDZ.
The applicant pointed out that the proposed report land, illegally occupied, fell within 200 meters of HTL, hence, no permission for construction could be granted, it being NDZ. It was also contended by him that the said survey numbers are just a few metres away from the designated turtle nesting sites which is an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
The applicant also said that the GCZMA, during a meeting in February 2019, had decided not to allow any construction of huts/ shacks/ tents/ cottages within 0-200 mtrs from HTL till the finalisation of CZMP nor any application should have been entertained in that regard but they have violated this policy.
