ANJUNA: The Tourism Department on Friday razed structures that were built illegally within the Coastal Regulation Zone on the Anjuna-vagator beach stretch. The demolition was done to implement the High Court’s suo moto cognisance identifying 16 structures that have cropped up in the CRZ.

Tourism Department officials who were present at the site said that the owners of all 16 structures had been directed to demolish them on January 13. A few of them had followed the directions, while others failed to do so.

The High Court had identified 16 structures at Anjuna-Vagator which included shacks and restaurants that had encroached on the beach. “Only those which are mentioned in the order will be acted upon,” said the official.

The official added that the Department of Tourism in September 2022 took the initiative of re-demarcation of all the beaches in Goa to distinguish between private and government property.

“This exercise was last carried out 11 years ago. The situation is such that the earlier demarcated stones which were put here have been washed away because of the high tide while some of them were purposely removed and thrown away so that the encroachments cannot be identified. Once the re-demarcation is complete, the department is going to take action against the encroachers,” said the official.