TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed the petition filed by the M/s Leading Hotels Limited that had challenged the of Goa Foundation arguments against the Environment Clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances granted to golf course resort project at Tiracol.
NGT while dismissing the petition has said that Goa Foundation has no personal interest in the matter but has raised the issue of EC and CRZ before the tribunal because being environmentalist, the protection of environment is one of its functions.
“Goa Foundation is a registered Society and are well known environmental activists, having due accreditation. There are many litigations, in which the GF has appeared without personal interest and was considered by the Apex Court. Having regard to aforesaid facts, the objection regarding ‘locus’ of GF is untenable and stands overruled,” the order issued on April 27 reads.
NGT also said that the other petitioners – three Tiracol villagers – Anthony Mendes, Juze Godinho and Agnel Godinho, are members of the Association form by the Mundkars and are part of the land acquired for the project at Tiracol.
The Leading Hotels Limited had contended that the Goa Foundation and other applicants have suppressed material facts and that the appeal, challenging EC and CRZ clearance, is filed with malafide intention and must be dismissed for such a reason on account of ‘suppression of material facts.’
NGT has already stayed the work on the Tiracol bridge.
Goa Foundation has alleged that the Rs 77-crore bridge is being constructed with public money for almost exclusive use of the golf course resort project, with total 12.18 lakh sq mtrs land acquired for the project by the company. The entire Tiracol village admeasures 13.84 lakh sqmts.
