PANAJI
Petitioner Kashinath Shetye brandished an order claiming that the NGT had stayed the festival on the day of its inauguration.
The order circulated through whatsapp, asks the authorities to “enforce the effect of revocation of the permission granted to the festival named in the permission -- Grape Escapade 2017 till the GCZMA holds the meeting and takes appropriate decision in the matter.”
The order was issued after the GCZMA has told the NGT that “no permission was required for organising any festival under the CRZ notification 2011 in CRZ II area and therefore there is no violation of undertaking given by the GTDC.”
“We have not been served any order. But someone has sent me via whatsapp. Someone, who I do not wish to name has gone to the NGT, I think this is the only work he has. It is clearly written here that the Campal Football ground is falling in CRZ II. CRZ II Definition is clearly mentioned in the notification dated 2011 so either he is not conversant with what is CRZ II or he is trying to waste the time of the government and the courts,” GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral told reporters.
“I request the court, to see what Campal Ground is, where we don’t require CRZ ground and the question of taking CRZ permission does not arise. Everybody knows that before 2004 there was a big stadium here and that shows that is the final point of structure. So the question of CRZ does not come before this court. The issue is they claim that people who are acknowledging that there are CRZ violations done. There is no such order from the court, it is very clear order where is it written… till the GCZMA holds a meeting and takes an appropriate decision in the matter. Where is there a stay in this?” Cabral said.
“This is only to mislead to create such an atmosphere. They had stopped mining. Now they want to shut tourism also. There is nothing permanent here. These are temporary structures for four days which will be removed on the fifth day. Court has not given any stay. We are doing everything legally,” Cabral added. Petitioner Kashinath Shetye however claimed that the NGT order meant a stay.
The annual Grape Escapade 2017 billed as “Goa’s premier wine, food and lifestyle festival” began on April 27 and will conclude on April 30 from 6pm onwards at DB Bandodkar Ground, Campal, Panaji, Goa.
