MARGAO: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Western Zone Bench in Pune has dismissed an appeal filed by the proprietor of a property in Sernabatim, Colva village, against the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority’s (GCZMA) order directing the demolition of structures in his property.
In its judgment pronounced on May 31, the NGT bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr Vijay Kulkarni upheld the GCZMA’s order dated October 13, 2022, which directed the proprietor to demolish the structures within 30 days, citing violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification.
The appellant had claimed that the structures existed prior to 1991, when the CRZ Notification came into force, and relied on documents such as a construction license from the erstwhile Portuguese regime’s “Camara Municipal De Salcete” dated May 11, 1948, and a repair permission from the Village Panchayat of Sernabatim, Vanelim & Colva dated March 31, 1979.
However, the NGT found these documents unreliable and doubted their authenticity. The tribunal noted that the appellant had failed to establish a connection between him and the alleged ancestors who constructed the structures. It also observed that the information obtained under the RTI Act suggested that the repair permission document was not found in the village panchayat’s records.
The NGT also rejected the appellant’s argument that the GCZMA had exercised its power of review on merits, which is barred. It held that the GCZMA had to re-consider the issue in light of the directions from the Bombay High Court in a related matter, where the respondent, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF), had sought action against illegal structures in the CRZ.
Dismissing the appeal, the NGT directed the demolition order to be carried out within 30 days from the date of uploading the judgment.
