NGT directs GCZMA to inspect Tiracol structures
Show cause notice was issued in November 2015
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to duly inquire into a complaint against one Diogo Constancio D’Souza for building a structure in violation of CRZ norms in Tiracol.
In its order, the GCZMA has directed the GCZMA to inquire into the complaint filed against D’Souza and “after due hearing, final decision be taken in accordance with law.”
The process of reaching final decision and communicating the same to the parties shall be completed within a period of six weeks. In the meanwhile status quo in regard to the property in question shall be maintained and the structural changes be not made and the finding recorded in the inspection report shall match further record, when the same is prepared, meaning thereby that there shall be no expansion activity beyond the existing property at the site,” the GCZMA said in its order.
The GCZMA had issued a notice to D’Souza on November 2, 2015, that his construction was in violation of CRZ notification 2011, as it was within the No Development Zone of the CRZ and that the construction is highly detrimental to the coastal riverine ecosystem.
The GCZMA notice also asked D'Souza to stop work and to show cause why a direction to demolish structures and to restore the land to its original condition should not be issued.
The time period expired on November 16, 2015, and D’Souza failed to respond to the notice and the GCZMA failed to take further action, forcing the complainant Savio Rodrigues to approach the National Green Tribunal to act in the matter.
According to Savio Rodrigues, who filed the complaint D’Souza has no permissions either from the village panchayat, or the pollution board or the GCZMA and yet the work continued unabated.
