Notices issued to Tourism Dept, GTDC over clearance in alleged NDZ area
MARGAO
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s grandiose “reconstruction of shops” plan to set up a shopping complex-cum-food court plaza, besides a shopping complex, beach deck, etc., at the iconic Colva beach has come under the lens of the National Green Tribunal.
Saying that the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF) has raised a substantial question about the environment, the NGT Western Zone Bench has directed issuance of notices to the Tourism Department and the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for a hearing returnable within four weeks.
The CCCF, through its secretary Judith Almeida, has filed a plea before the NGT seeking to quash the NOC/permission dated May 2, 2025 issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) in favour of the GTDC, whereby permission has been granted for the proposed reconstruction of shops at Colva beach under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme.
The CCCF has raised the contention that Survey Nos. 23/1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 37/1, 6, 11 and 38/0 in Colva constitute a ‘No Development Zone’ (NDZ) area, which is evident from the site inspection report, where such construction cannot be permitted. The Forum also drew the attention of the Tribunal to Clause 8(I)(ii)(b), which permits construction in such an area of only “dispensaries, schools, public rain shelters, community toilets, bridges, roads, jetties (erosion control measures), water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required for traditional inhabitants living within the biosphere reserves after obtaining approval from the concerned CZMA”.
The CCCF, however, maintained that the structures permitted include: a shopping complex and food court plaza; shopping complex; beach deck; pedestrian bridge; vehicular bridge; pedestrian bridge; tourist security cabin; hawkers’ plaza; shopping and food court plaza outdoor beautification; and shopping complex outdoor beautification.
“These structures are said to be of a permanent nature and are proposed to be constructed at the site in question, which are barred as per the provisions in force,” the Forum stated.
While drawing the attention of the Tribunal to the minutes of the meeting of the GCZMA dated April 4, 2025 and the site inspection report, the Forum claimed that the decision to issue the NOC needs to be set aside as it is in violation of the stated law/provision.
“We find that a substantial question pertaining to the environment is made out and, therefore, we direct the Registry to issue notices to the respondents, returnable within four weeks,” the Tribunal stated.
