MARGAO: There was high drama on Wednesday afternoon in Colva when the officials of the District Collectorate visited a resort to seal structures within the property but were stopped by the owners of the resort, who had obtained a stay order from the Supreme Court.
The conflict stems from a recent ruling by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 29, 2024, which upheld the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority’s (GCZMA) directive for a beach resort in Colva to demolish specific structures and restore the land to its original state.
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The NGT dismissed the appeal that had been filed by the hotel against the GCZMA order dated October 12, 2022. While making its judgement, the Tribunal, amongst other factors, had relied on the layout of a rough sketch that was submitted by the Colva Panchayat in 2005.
The resort proprietor had denied all the allegations and had then approached the Supreme Court, which granted a stay on the GCZMA’s directions for demolition of the resort’s structures.
In its order, wherein the SC had stayed the ‘directions of removal of structures’, the Apex Court observed that the sketch that was referred to and relied upon by the NGT in its order, was served to the appellant, along with the GCZMA order. The SC noted that the resort was not given an opportunity to object to certain evidence before the GCZMA.
However, on Wednesday, the officials who arrived at the site said they were not informed about the SC order and were there to implement the order of the GCZMA via the instructions they had received from the South Goa Collector’s office.
The officials tried to argue that the order they had received from GCZMA, which they had come to execute, were to disconnect the electricity and water connection and seal the alleged illegal structures in the resort’s property as per the NGT order. The resort owners reiterated the existence of the stay order and urged authorities to respect it.
While there were disagreements initially, the officials eventually retreated from the site and said they will speak to their higher ups before taking any future course of action. Police personnel were also present.
