MAPUSA
The GSPCB acted on the direction of the National Green Tribunal urging the board to consider objections raised by the petitioner and activist, Kashinath Shetye on its consent to operate licence issued to Curlies on March 3, 2016.
The long drawn legal battle dates back to 2000 when Shetye first complained against Curlies for running an illegal restaurant in Anjuna.
The GCZMA had then ordered demolition of the shack but the Curlies owner had managed to bring a stay on the order. The battle then shifted to the NGT and SC and finally back to the NGT, which recently directed the GSPCB to withdraw the consent to operate licence.
After hearing the representative of Curlies, Linnet Nunes and petitioner, Kashinath Shetye, GSPCB passed the order urging Curlies to shut down the operation of its restaurant. "The consent to operate order issued on March 3, 2016, by the Board to M/s Curlies Restaurant and Bar located at St Michael Waddo, Anjuna, shall be revoked forthwith," said the order signed by scientist, Mohan Girap. The Board said the other issue of land use and forgery raised by Shetye was sub-judice before SC and the NGT. "Both parties are free to approach the GSPCB's office once the competent authority arrives at findings on the issue," the order further read. GSPCB directed Curlies to stop operation of its restaurant until such time that consent to operate is issued to it by the Board.
It may be recalled that Curlies was recently in the news after its owner, Edwin Nunes was arrested following a crackdown by police after two youth died of drug overdose along the Anjuna coast in August during the long weekend preceding the national holiday on Independence Day.
Soon after the arrest, the Food and Drugs Administration had also raided the premises of Curlies restaurant and ordered its shut down after it was found its kitchen was in total mess.
