PANAJI
There has been a massive rise in real estate activity along Goa's famed coast post the Covid-19 pandemic and this is reflected in the number of alleged violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, particularly in North Goa's Pernem and Bardez talukas.
In Pernem, Arambol has seen some frenzied real estate activity over the last three years and with it complaints of violations of CRZ rules have also piled up before the Coastal Zone Management Authority from these regions.
In fact, of the 200-odd complaints of CRZ violations filed before the GCZMA and other authorities, as many as 165 are in Arambol's Girkarwada, the locality where blatant illegalities and construction in rank violation of the coastal laws had prompted the Bombay High Court at Goa to remove from office the village's sarpanch, who along with family members owned several of the illegal structures.
Also, 26 cases of alleged CRZ violations from Girkarwada were reported from a single parcel of land -- Survey number 64/0.
Meanwhile in Bardez, Anjuna village best known for giving birth to Goa's tourism back in the 1970s with the accidental arrival of the 'flower children', has reported 313 cases of CRZ violations with as many as 23 violations reported against a single entity -- W Resort -- in Survey number 356/7-A and another 15 violations in Survey number 354/2 by the same resort.
According to Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, who furnished this information to the Goa Legislative Assembly, the CRZ authorities have issued 277 show-cause notices after conducting site inspections.
Sequeira gave the data in a written reply to a query posed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat who had sought details of CRZ violations reported to the authorities by complainants.
