MARGAO
Illegal extensions to the original stalls built by the Tourism department in the property near the Colva beach and allotted to the leaseholders may face an axe from the Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
The Authority has further decided to direct removal/ demolition of all the 29 gaddas/ carts operating in Colva village within the property of Department of Tourism in CRZ area, without any approval.
The issue of the alleged illegal extensions to the stalls had come up for discussion at the 325th meeting of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) chaired by the Secretary, Environment earlier this month.
The Authority is reported to have opined although the shopping complex was acquired in the year 1980 by Department of Tourism and further five units with six stalls each, totalling 30 numbers, were built in the year 1988, the lessee had carried out illegal extensions to original stalls.
The Authority observed that given the admissions made by Department of Tourism has decided to issue directions to the Tourism department under Sec. 5 of the Environment Protection Act for demolition of all the illegal extensions carried out in the complex pertaining to Department of Tourism in six survey numbers of Colva village. The Authority further decided to direct removal/ demolition of all 29 gaddas/ carts operating in Survey no.37/11 of Colva village within the property of Department of Tourism in CRZ area operating without any approval.
After perusing the written argument/ submissions filed by the parties, the Authority went on to determine whether the complex pertaining to Department of Tourism in the survey numbers of Colva village existed prior to the year 1991?
A glance at the minutes of the meeting showed that the Authority noted the Department of Tourism has admitted that the extensions have been carried out at the site by lessee with regards to the 30 stalls.
The minutes further showed that the complainant, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum has also fortified the case that extensions have been carried out of stalls. Further, the Department of Tourism has admitted that 29 four-wheeler gaddas/ carts of temporary/ permanent nature operating on its property at Colva village without their approval within the CRZ area.
