MAPUSA
A restaurant in the field at Camarkhazan-Mapusa has come under the scrutiny of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), which has directed the owner to stop operations which is located within the coastal regulatory zone limits.
The coastal authority has also issued a show-cause notice to the owner warning demolition of the restaurant located in the field at Camarkhazan, Mapusa for alleged violation of norms.
The GCZMA has further directed the owner not to carry any civil work at the site and come for personal hearing in the matter on September 7.
The notice was issued a couple of days ago after the General Secretary of Tenants Association of Camarcasanacho Bundh, John Lobo, in his complaint stated that an illegal construction had been carried out in the field.
After receiving the complaint, the expert officials of the GCZMA conducted a site inspection of the area six months ago.
In their report, the officials said that the field/property where the alleged illegal construction has been carried out is partly affected by the mangrove buffer and partly lies within CRZ-II of the Moira river and also completely identified as khazan land, as per CZMP 2011.
The site inspection report also said that the restaurant was constructed by filling up a low lying area.
“The site inspection report indicates there is blatant and serious violation of CRZ notification 2011 while carrying out the alleged illegal construction which is highly detrimental to the coastal system/riverine ecosystem,” said Sneha Gitte (IAS), Member Secretary of GCZMA in the show-cause notice.
“It is also observed that you have not obtained any prior approval of the GCZMA for the purpose of the alleged construction as required under the CRZ notification 1991/2011,” she added.
With the powers vested under various sections and rules of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the member secretary directed the owner to “show cause and stop operation of the restaurant.”
She also asked why a direction to demolish the structures and to restore the land to its original condition should not be issued to the owner.
