Team Herald
PANJIM: Pressure from the social activists and public continue to mount against the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) regarding the construction of a concrete wall on Vainguinim Beach, who held a personal hearing in connection with these complaints on Thursday and adjourned the same to next Tuesday.
While there were two complainants earlier, namely the Vainguinim Valley Residents Association (VVRA) and Taleigao resident Banu Shirodkar, who represents the fishing community, now there are 14 complainants in total, more complainants which include Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares and activist Kashinath Shetye.
Thursday’s hearing was based on the first two inspections that were carried out by the GCZMA in the month of April. However, the VVRA questioned why the notice of hearing had not mentioned the show-cause notice that had been issued after the second inspection, based on which, they said the High Court (HC) had issued directions to the GCZMA to dispose of matter within a stipulated period of time.
Furthermore, the VVRA criticised the GCZMA for failing to submit to the complainants the copies of the third inspection report that was carried out by the Additional Collector. They pointed out that this matter had been raised before the High Court and that had been repeatedly asking for this copy in writing. Incidentally, this report had already been submitted to other parties.
The complainants only received the said copy on Thursday and so they sought more time to examine this report and give their submissions thereafter. The matter was thus adjourned to Tuesday.
Speaking to the media persons, post meeting, VVRA Counsel Clayton Fonseca and others questioned how the concrete wall is still standing when it is violating the CRZ rules, something that the GCZMA’s own expert members had stated.
“This is the first time that I am seeing that it is taking more than four months to demolish a simple small wall being constructed on a public beach. So in a certain sense it is a reflection on the quality of functioning of the GCZMA,” said Alvares.
The environmental crusader also alleged that those who built the wall have a lot of influence and cited past incidents where there were unprecedented decisions taken by the government in favour of them.
“So you can imagine the amount of pressure that is being put on public bodies to ensure that this wall is not removed, though in theory, in law and in every possible way, it is not possible to put a wall on the beach. Nobody can give permission for a wall on the beach. Now if you cannot give permission, and if it is a violation, it can be removed in one day. I do not know what the reason is behind these continuous delays,” said Alvares.
He however hoped that the matter will be resolved at the next hearing and that the GCZMA will take necessary action.
Other complainants like Shetye, have further threatened to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) if the GCZMA doesn’t demolish the wall given that the construction goes against prior NGT orders.
