The act of constructing, a cemented concrete structure on Vainguinim beach what locals of Dona Paula as well as the main constitutional authority for protecting Goa’s coasts the GCZMA have termed illegal, is set to have national ramifications, beyond the shores of Goa, where a strong citizen’s movement has started against what people feel is a crude take-over of a citizen’s beach by the private hotel company
The very authority which allowed mere “repairs” of a wall has noticed a totally new construction and red flagged gross violations of coastal management and environmental laws.
Firstly, it is clear from pictures and videos that the Vainguinim beach has faced enough damages. The construction of what is a concrete structure of the beach, has been claimed by the hotel to be mere repair work in the retaining wall of “their own property”. That claim may be well on its way to be rejected and has been strongly challenged. The apparently clear and very serious violations will be fought against both in the people’s court and the judicial court.
But the issue is far more serious than just environmental violations. And this is something that not just the hotel but the hospitality company that has a business relationship with it needs to introspect deeply. This hospitality major is a part of the Tata Group. While they are not responsible for any controversies that the owners of the properties are mired in, they have already been brought in the picture and referenced and tagged in the social and general media storm which has erupted.
Surely the Tata Group, would prefer to stay as far away from an issue that involves serious allegations, and observations of the foremost coastal management body, of environmental destruction, the purported take-over of a public beach and the clear standoff between the people of Goa, the local residents and the owners of the beachside resort hotel.
With Tata’s track record of impeccable corporate governance and inspirational leadership under the Captaincy of Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, even an indirect smirch on its spotless reputation would be unthinkable. Therefore, while the Tata Group is NOT a party to this, the people of Goa, its environmentalists and right thinking activists are holding onto a hope that group will not just distance itself from the issue – which it will rightfully do, but do more, i.e. do an independent study of the circumstances that led to these alleged beach violations, assess the true facts of the case and impress upon and insist to the owners that being on the right side of not just law, but people’s perceptions, is critical to their future business partnership.
At the same time the management of the hotel should similarly introspect and course correct and do what is right and just and go through the test of legality. The Coastal Management inspection report raises a serious question on the legality of this beach construction
The hotel maintains that it has undertaken only repair work on the retaining wall in their own property to prevent further erosion of the beach. It claims that it acquired all permissions from the Government of Goa.
Unfortunately, the GCZMA which gave permission to conduct repairs and a linear structure in its show cause notice said that the hotel has violated the conditions of the permission given by the authority, mentioning that “concrete cement has been used against eco-friendly material. It further said “cement structures are not permitted within the intertidal zone” in an ecologically fragile area.
It also negates the hotel’s claims stating that the ongoing linear wall construction “is (and not appears to be) a new work and not repairs, as permitted under the NOC”, which the hotel is using as its licence to construct. It has issued a show cause asking why the construction should not be demolished and the beach restored to its original condition. So, this isn’t a private construction at all
The local residents and the people of Goa want just that. The fight to reclaim a public beach from encroachment (as pointed out by an authority) is a people’s fight And it will be taken to its logical conclusion, no matter what the pressures and stumbling blocks are. If the hotel management has erred in its decision, it has a chance to step back and clear the encroachment, and redeem themselves in the eyes of the public. After all, the owners are expected to understand the language and sentiments of the people.
Taking over a people’s beach will not be allowed by the people of Goa.
