the goan I network
PANAJI/CANACONA
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine and simultaneously issued demolition orders to some 178 licencees operating tourism-related businesses in structures violating CRZ rules at Agonda, Morjim and Mandrem, known to be turtle-nesting habitats.
In the unprecedented move, GCZMA Member Secretary, Ravi Jha, issued the notices on Thursday to 69 licencees in Agonda, 61 in Mandrem and 48 in Morjim.
Jha issued the orders after a decision to demolish the structures and levy the fine was taken at the 197th meeting of the GCZMA held on April 26.
Interestingly, the issue of these structures affecting the turtle nesting sites along these beaches was being adjudicated by the National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench in New Delhi which had only on Thursday fined the GCZMA a whopping Rs 1 crore for failing to comply with previous directions of the Tribunal.
Sources said, the GCZMA with support from the demolition squads of the district administration in both North and South Goa, is expected to begin demolishing the structures from Monday. Over a thousand structures, most of which are technically shown as ‘temporary’ but are actually concrete-base wooden structures, are slated to be demolished in the unprecedented move.
Meanwhile in Agonda, hundreds of the seaside structures belonging to different parties have been earmarked for demolition in a rude shock to the operators on a day when many were celebrating the feast of the Agonda Church on Saturday.
The mammoth demolition exercise of over 600 temporary structures is likely begin from Monday.
Incidentally, each of the tourism stakeholders under the GCZMA radar have been fined a penalty of Rs one lakh and they have been directed to deposit the amount at the office of GCZMA at Porvorim either by cheque or bank draft.
The demolition order signed by Jha, quotes it to be removal of the concrete based wooden structures shack along the beachline which disturb turtle nesting sites.
The order also mentions the Goa Paryavaran Savrakshan Sangharsh Samiti application before National Green Tribunal seeking enforcement of the November 2017 order of tribunal directing the GCZMA to take action against the illegal temporary structures constructed along beaches without specific permissions at Agonda, Morjim and Mandrem which are regular turtle nesting beaches and No Development Zones.
The demolition order served on to the alleged violators on Saturday further states
that the Tribunal has also directed the GCZMA to recover the compensation from those violating the CRZ norms apart from the incidental directions.
Accordingly in the 197th meeting held on April 26, the authority resolved to demolish all the resorts/establishments, which are operating without the approval/NOC/permission of GCZMA in line with the NGT order and also impose the Rs 1 lakh fine. Incidentally, two teams of Talathis and other officials were seen moving in two different directions to serve the demolition orders to the concerned parties along the Agonda shore since Saturday morning.
Some of the notices were not served as the teams were unable to identify the structures.
A few of the alleged
violators who received the demolition orders on Saturday evening have reportedly begun bringing down some of their structures. There was also a widespread discontent amongst tourism stakeholders with some even going to the extent of blaming the local body for the fiasco.
“Some of us are even having the GCZMA NOC and others permits. Yet we are issued demolition order. We cannot understand how our structures can be termed as illegal, when the same authority (GCZMA) has issued us NOC. Our panchayat which is reaping all the benefits of our trade has never tried to help us who are engaged in tourism and are now washing off their hands instead of coming to our rescue,” said one of the affected tourism stakeholders after getting the demolition order.
The All Goa Private Property Shacks and Huts Owners Association President Dharmesh Saglani was not answering calls made on his known number.
Some stakeholders meanwhile were complaining of the injustice to them by the authorities and the association. They are contemplating knocking the doors of the courts as a last-gasp effort to avoid demotion.
