MARGAO
When the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered demolition of a bar and restaurant at Betalbatim on June 29, 2021 by upholding the demolition order issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the Principal Bench of the NGT issued a crucial direction to the GCZMA “ to set up an effective monitoring mechanism on CRZ violations to advance the rule of law.
In fact, a glance at the last paragraph of the demolition order issued by the NGT Principal Bench, New Delhi, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court last week, reveals that the Tribunal made important observations vis-a-vis the GCZMA and CRZ violations.
While disposing of the Betalbatim matter, the NGT Bench observed that the GCZMA appears to be working only on the basis of complaints against illegal structures, adding that large number of illegal structures continue to exist inspite of directions of the High Court.
That’s not all. The NGT further pointed out that it may be desirable to have an inventory prepared in respect of such structures based on an independent annual survey, to be updated periodically to avoid selective action against the violations of the CRZ. “An effective monitoring mechanism needs to be set up by GCZMA to advance the rule of law”, the NGT order stated.
Against the recent developments, including destruction of sand dunes along Salcete’s coastline, at Varca and Benaulim, besides development at the Sernabatim beach, questions are being raised whether the GCZMA has set up an effective monitoring mechanism to check increasing number of CRZ violations along the coast.
Pose the question to social activist Judith Almeida, the petitioner in the NGT in the Betalbatim case, and apt comes a reply that there’s no change in the ground reality on the coast since the last two years. “Leave alone setting up an inbuilt mechanism to take cognizance of CRZ violations along the coast, the agency does not even act on complaints on the violations”, Judith added.
The social activist pointed out that the GCZMA owes an explanation to the people over the action, if any, the agency has initiated in respect of the sand dune destruction at Varca and Benaulim, besides last week’s development on the Sernabatim beach. “When I called up the legal counsel representing the GCZMA, I was told that the Sernabatim beach development is being carried out as per permissions. But, I have a question to ask the GCZMA, whether the Authority has issued an order to the party to take up the development on the Sernabatim beach and whether the work is being carried out as per the laid down specifications”, she questioned.
She added: There’s a need to implement the NGT directions to the GCZMA in both letter and spirit. It’s for the GCZMA to explain the people of Goa the inbuilt mechanism the Authority has put in place to check CRZ violations”.
Judith has disclosed plans to knock the doors of the High Court on the Sernabatim beach development work, saying the “the ongoing work if goes unchallenged, will set a wrong precedent all along the coast”.
