PANAJI
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has issued a stop work order to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) for commencing work on a bridge between Cumbarjua and St Estevam islands in Tiswadi without permission from the coastal regulatory body, documents submitted before the NGT have revealed.
Responding to a petition filed by one Estevao Ribeiro who has filed a petition seeking that permissions for the bridge to be revoked, the GCZMA said that “an order has already been issued on 27.04.2022 directing the GSIDC to stop the work immediately and to show-cause as to why directions to demolish the structure and restoration of land to its original condition should not be issued.”
Ribeiro filed the petition seeking that directions to be issued to the Captain of Ports to immediately take necessary action to revoke the NOC dated 07.06.2019 issued to the GSIDC for the construction of a bridge from village Chanem-Kantor at Cumbarjua to Vantso at
St Estevam as well as direction to the (GCZMA), Captain of Ports and the Director of Panchayats to forthwith take appropriate action to stop illegal construction being undertaken by the GSIDC and its contractor M/s K V J Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd.
The NGT proceeded to admit the petition observing that “a substantial question relating to the environment has been raised in this application.”
Ribeiro argued that despite the area being a CRZ area and governed by the CRZ regulations 2011 they are constructing a bridge from village Chanem-Kantor at Cumbarjua to Vantso at St.Estevam, Goa without obtaining any approval from GCZMA.
