PANAJI
Assessment Notification of 2006.The order, passed on April 7, a copy of which was made available on Wednesday, was especially scathing of the manner in which the GCZMA has gone about granting permission. The tribunal directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to grant a fresh clearance under the Coastal Regulation Zone regulations within four months, else keep the construction of the bridge in abeyance as well as directed the GCZMA to pay `5 lakhs to the North Goa collector to be used to environment awareness.The order also directed the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation to submit a fresh application for the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance alongwith the necessary information including updated EIA, CRZ classification etc. It has further directed the GCZMA, to consider and take a decision on application “on its own merit, without any prejudice or influence of the findings of this order within one month thereafter.”“The entire process shall be completed within 4 months from date of this order, else the construction work of the bridge shall be kept in abeyance till such CRZ clearance is obtained,” the NGT has ruled.The NGT has also ruled that in the meantime, GCZMA shall immediately carry out inspection of construction activity and ensure that the bridge construction is not adversely affecting the coastal environment.“GCZMA shall deposit cost of `5-lakh with Collector, North Goa, who shall utilize this amount on environmental activities including awareness, coastal protection, mangrove replantation etc. Besides this GCZMA shall pay cost of `1-lakh to the applicant as litigation cost within four weeks.Whilst disposing off the petition, the NGT has said that the petition was not bound by limitation, as was argued by the Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, because the petitioners have not “challenged the construction of the bridge but the challenge is only on the ground that it has not obtained environmental clearance.”
