PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has recommended a survey by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) of a portion of Candolim beach following allegations of environmental damage due to the construction of the Beach Club and Resort.
The Bench of Justice M S Karnik and Justice Valmiki Menezes has asked for a report to be submitted within three weeks, providing suggestions for the restoration of the sandy stretches after the site inspection takes place. This order was pronounced during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation.
“Considering the suggestions of the petitioners that there is now a better scientific method of accelerating the sand accretion process as suggested by NIO in the aforementioned paper, we deem it appropriate to request the Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula to depute any Scientific Officer from the Institute, familiar with the process of accelerating the sand accretion over the sandy stretches of Survey No.146/4-E of Village Candolim, the land which is the subject matter of this petition,” reads the order.
The Bench has further asked the NIO Director to inform the HC Registrar the date and time of the inspection, and submit a report providing suggestions for the area’s restoration.
According to the petitioner, the Zon Hotels Pvt Ltd acquired 2,190 square meters of land for constructing the structure. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) imposed a fine of Rs 2.04 crore approx on the company, which was upheld by the National Green Tribunal, and subsequently challenged by the firm.
