PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal has dismissed an appeal filed by the owners of a guest house in Anjuna village on grounds that the GCZMA which issued an order to demolish the guest house was right in doing so.
The appeal was filed on grounds that there was a structure existing on the plot prior to 1991 which was only renovated subsequent to that and that the present owners who were now facing the demolition were told when they bought the property that the structure was completely legal.
“We see that the order passed by the GCZMA is in accordance with the law and show cause notice was issued in accordance with the provisions and after giving an opportunity of hearing the said order was passed. The State has demarcated the High Tide Line and the CRZ notification 2011 is executed. Accordingly, we don’t find any merit in the case,” the NGT ruled.
The owners argued that they purchased the property from its erstwhile owners in 2013 along with the ground plus two structures, which existed therein. The erstwhile owners of the property had given inspection of various documents to demonstrate that the said structure was an old structure including a survey done in the year 1934 which they said demonstrates the existence of the structure and a well in the property.
The erstwhile owners informed the new owners that the work could not be completed fully on account of financial difficulties and the said structure remained in an incomplete/ dilapidated state and on account of this position, they managed to strike a good deal with the erstwhile owners and purchased the property for a relatively cheaper price.
However, the NGT ruled that the GCZMA gave the parties an adequate opportunity of being heard and “since it is found within the category of violation of CRZ notification thus necessary action have been taken by the authorities concerned.”
