PANAJI: The St Mateus Tenants Association Azossim along with the Goa Foundation has challenged an order of the Mamlatdar which granted permissions for development of a resort on a tenanted paddy field in khazan land in Azossim Mandur village.
Project proponent Rajesh Ashok Khaunte told the court that without prejudice to his rights and contentions, [he] will not, till the next date, undertake any construction orders or developmental activities in pursuance to the permission.
The PIL alleges that the construction is being raised on land covered by the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act and that the permissions have been granted by the Addl Collector-II of North Goa, TCP Department and the Village Panchayat in direct violation of the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 and the Goa Land Use Act, 1991 and therefore, they need to be quashed and set aside.
The court directed that notices be issued to the private respondents and asked them to file their replies before the next date.
The petition has also alleged that hotels being built in the khazan land poses serious environmental implications for the area as the plot is located squarely within the Azossim khazan and the consequent damage to the khazan system has not been assessed and is very real.
“Several ecologically sensitive areas of Goa are being diverted for undesirable development by unscrupulous and economically powerful lobbies with the active knowledge and collusion of the local authorities and ministers,” the petition alleges.
“The construction is coming up in violation of law, destined to affect the ecology and environment of the paddy fields of Azossim while the authorities are all complicit and refusing to act on complaints,” the petition alleges.
