PANAJI
National spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC), Trajano D’Mello, on Thursday alleged serious irregularities in the handling of a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) case involving a bungalow built by a former chief secretary in Aldona. D’Mello claimed that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) violated due process and the principles of natural justice.
He said he had first filed complaints with the GCZMA and other departments, and later approached the High Court, submitting documents showing that the land falls within the CRZ.
According to D’Mello, even the landowner, while applying under Section 17(2), had admitted that the property was located in a CRZ area. He also said a member of the CRZ expert committee had stated that the site falls within the regulated zone.
Despite this, he alleged that in a meeting held on October 28 last year, the GCZMA decided that the area did not fall under the CRZ. D’Mello claimed the decision was taken without giving him a hearing or informing him of the order.
He accused the then GCZMA member secretary, Arun Kumar Mishra (IAS), of acting with mala fide intent and alleged that the decision was meant to help the former chief secretary.
D’Mello said he has written to the GCZMA seeking recall of the order, but has received no response. He also said he has filed a complaint with the vigilance department and urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to order a detailed probe.
