PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notices to the State and project proponent Michael Lobo seeking a response to allegations of illegal permanent construction and large-scale environmental damage in the No Development Zone (NDZ) of Anjuna village, falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ-III).
The notices were issued on a PIL filed by local activist Desmond Alvares challenging the construction of permanent structures supported by cast-iron pillars and concrete footings in Survey Nos. 354/1, 340/0 and 340/1.
The petitioner contended that the construction violated the conditions of an approval granted by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) in January 2025. He stated the approval permitted only temporary wooden structures, but the project proponent allegedly went ahead with permanent construction.
The petition further cited an alleged incident on June 12, 2025, when GCZMA officials could not inspect the site after bouncers deployed at the project's main gate allegedly prevented them from entering.
The Anjuna-Caisua Village Panchayat has also come under scrutiny for allegedly granting a construction licence without obtaining mandatory technical clearance from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department or a land-conversion sanad.
With notices returnable in four weeks, the court also warned that officers concerned would face personal liability for exemplary costs if they failed to submit their affidavits within the stipulated period.
CM hands over first tranche of financial aid to fire-hit vendors
VASCOIn a major relief to traders who lost their shops and merchandise in the devastating Vasco Municipal Market fire on October 29, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday evening disbursed the first tranche of financial assistance amounting to Rs 1.39 crore to 103 claimants covering all 145 affected shops.The initial assistance was disbursed to eligible traders in the form of cheques, with individual relief ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the claims…
