PANAJI
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has found even more illegal structures at Girkar wada in Arambol where the High Court is pursuing the mushrooming of illegal structures. In a statement before the High Court, the GCZMA informed via an inspection report that further illegal commercial structures have been found.
“The HC has directed that the pollution control board should look into this and take appropriate steps as far as commercial activities are concerned, and the HC has permitted the CRZ authority to submit a further report based on the inspection which will be carried out henceforth,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam said.
The High Court also directed the (former) sarpanch of Arambol, Bernardo Fernandes, to make a statement concerning how he plans to deal with his own illegal ground plus three structures that were next to the original illegal hotel.
“Thereafter the HC will take a decision based on whatever the statement that is filed by him,” the advocate general said, adding that Fernandes has until Monday to make a statement.
“As far as the structure in the neighbouring plot was concerned where the party had himself given an undertaking before the High Court to demolish, the party has given a statement before the High Court that the 3rd floor has been demolished. This is just a statement. We will have to establish it at the site, whether the 3rd floor has been demolished. And the moment we demolish it, we will tell the High Court whether it has really been demolished,” Pangam said.
The High Court had earlier directed the Director of Panchayats to conduct an inquiry into the sarpanch Bernardo Fernandes and the functioning of the Arambol panchayat after it was found that there were, by the panchayat’s own admission, up to 187 illegal structures built and operating as commercial establishments at Girkar wada all within the CRZ area that were built and operating without any licences from any authority whatsoever.
