MAPUSA
Despite repeated intervention by regulatory authorities and even directions from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, alleged illegal activities in a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) property at Khobra-vaddo, Calangute have resurfaced, raising fresh concerns over the apparent disregard for environmental laws in the State and prompting questions over how such violations continue despite official action.
The Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) on Tuesday lodged a fresh complaint with the North Goa Collector, Calangute Village Panchayat and several government departments, alleging that M/s Ashwin Holdings Pvt Ltd has resumed the illegal levelling and excavation of sand dunes in the No Development Zone (NDZ) of Survey No. 208/1C at Calangute, causing serious environmental damage and violating the provisions of the CRZ Notification and other environmental laws.
According to the complaint, the company has also begun constructing an unauthorised road through the property by dumping red mud, rubble and construction debris without obtaining the mandatory permissions or No Objection Certificates from the competent authorities.
CCF president Agnelo Barretto alleged that the activities are in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the CRZ Notification and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. "The villagers have brought to our notice that M/s Ashwin Holdings Pvt Ltd is carrying out the work of an illegal road by using red mud, rubbles and construction debris in the property without obtaining any permissions or NOCs from authorities concerned," Barretto stated in the complaint.
The latest complaint assumes significance as the High Court of Bombay at Goa had, in 2021, taken cognisance of the clearing of beach vegetation in the same property and issued directions to the owner, following which the activity had reportedly come to a halt.
The CCF, however, has alleged that the owner has once again resumed work by clearing sand dunes and undertaking road construction within the NDZ.
Barretto pointed out that the Forum has filed several complaints over alleged illegal activities in the same survey number in the past.
He said the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had earlier issued a show-cause notice-cum-stop-work order in 2021, while the Calangute Village Panchayat had also directed the owner to halt the cutting of beach vegetation in the CRZ area.
"Despite these directions and repeated complaints, the owner of Survey No. 208/1C continues to undertake illegal activities in the area, demonstrating complete disregard for the law and the directions issued by the GCZMA, the panchayat and the High Court," Barretto alleged.
The CCF has demanded that the authorities immediately issue a fresh show-cause notice-cum-stop-work order, halt the ongoing excavation and transportation of sand, restore the damaged sand dunes to their original condition, initiate legal proceedings against those responsible and recover environmental compensation as provided under law.
