PANAJI
Following directions from the High Court, the State authorities on Friday issued closure notices to 51 illegal establishments, operating without required consent, at Girkarwado, Arambol. The establishments are scheduled to be sealed on Monday, January 8 onwards.
A joint team of Goa Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and Mamlatdar along with local panchayat secretary issued closure notices in the presence of police force.
The Bombay High Court at Goa, while hearing writ petition filed by Ravi Harmalkar and Rajesh Dabholkar and suo motu public interest litigation (PIL), last month, had directed the authorities to seal 61 establishments at Girkarwado, Arambol for operating without permissions. Accordingly, 10 structures were sealed and activities were stopped.
Speaking to The Goan, GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil said that these structures were operating without CRZ clearance from GCZMA and Consent to Operate under Air and Water Act from the pollution Board. “All these are commercial establishments. We will start sealing the establishments from Monday,” he said.
Patil said that following directions from the High Court, the authorities had last conducted a joint survey to identify the illegal structures and accordingly the action was initiated. “We are also acting on illegal structures operating in Anjuna- Vagator,” he said.
Arambol sarpanch in an affidavit filed before the High Court had stated that approximately 187 establishments such as bars and restaurants and guest houses along the coast of Girkarwada-Dando, Arambol had no permissions from the village panchayat.
The Court will hear the matter on January 17.
