Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s son Abhijat has prayed before the High Court to dismiss the PIL against his eco-tourism project stating that the petition filed on “eve” of Lok Sabha elections, is politically motivated.
In an affidavit submitted before the High Court of Bombay in Goa, Abhijat has denied his eco-tourism project at Netravali village in Sanguem taluka has any illegality. The Congress party had filed a PIL in the court against the eco-tourism proponent Hideaway Hospitality owned by Abhijat, alleging arbitrary grant of approvals to the project leading to destruction of eco-fragile area.
In his affidavit, Abhijat stated, “The present PIL Writ Petition is a politically motivated petition filed by the petitioner to settle personal scores. The petition is hit by delay and laches and the petition is an abuse of the Court and law.”
Denying that the project led to deforestation, he stated, “It is denied any forest has been destroyed. It is specifically denied that my said property is adjoining wildlife sanctuary. It is denied that there is any possibility of environmental imbalance.”
He claimed that the land on which his project is being built is not identified as forest and the Forest Department found only cashew plantation and other plantations carried out by him.
Arguing that the petition is hit by delays and false claims that the work on the project had started only in 2018, Abhijat has submitted, “The work of the eco-friendly tourism project was started in the year 2016, pursuant to the permissions dated 29/9/2016 and the construction licence dated 4/11/2016.”
He has further stated that the huts which were permitted were already constructed and occupancy certificate had been granted.
Questioning the motive of the petitioners, as they have pointed towards environmental degradation, Abhijat has submitted, “The petitioners who claim to be interested in environment must have been aware of the permissions granted to me from the year 2015. The petitioners are falsely alleging that they came to know of deforestation (only) in the year 2018, however, they do not specify the date and month of the year 2018.”
