PANAJI
The Goa Foundation has approached the National Green Tribunal challenging the Baina beautification project carried out by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation on grounds that it falls in the No Development Zone of the Coastal Regulation Zone.
In their petition before the National Green Tribunal, the Goa Foundation said that they noticed about the discrepancy through a news item in The Goan on August 3, 2016 and brought on record that the GCZMA cannot grant any such approvals since these would be in violation of the CRZ notification and further that since it appears that the GCZMA had granted the permissions subject to the condition that the project should be exclusively restricted between the existing wall and the road kerb only.
“However the project that is being executed is towards the seaward side of the retainer wall and is on the active beach zone or sandy stretch,” the Goa Foundation has said in their petition.
The Goa Foundation also brought on record that a previous project sought to be executed by the Goa State Urban Development Agency was struck down and ordered to be demolished by the Bombay High Court at Goa.
“In the year 2006-07, another Goa government agency by name GSUDA attempted to fund a beautification project on the same beach. The project was not only halted, but entire constructions was raised to the ground by orders of the GCZMA and the Hon’ble High Court,” the Foundation has said adding that the officers who were responsible for implementing the project, which was clearly in violation of the CRZ notification, were heavily penalized and individually fined by the High Court.
Alvares has sought that the work undertaken including concrete pillars be demolished and beach be restored to its original condition.
