PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that efforts will be made, including pursuing legal remedies with the Central government on board to save houses and other structures along Goa's coast facing the threat of demolition due to litigations in courts.
Sawant said, the matter related to such structures along the coast in Arambol is currently being heard by the Bombay High Court at Goa and therefore he would not like to make any specific statement in the House.
Sawant was intervening in the discussion on a calling attention motion which was moved by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo regarding the threat of demolition faced by structures along the entire Northern coast.
Earlier, in a detailed reply to Lobo's calling attention motion, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira briefed the House about the involvement in illegal activities and complicity of the Panchayat Secretary in the matter of structures at Arambol which the High Court is currently hearing.
Sequeira also denied that there was any notice sent by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for demolition of houses owned by traditional fishermen.
"Structures built by fishermen before 1991 are at no risk," he said, adding also that the government has not taken any decision to carry out a drone survey of constructions in coastal areas.
The demolition notices have been issued only to commercial establishments in the coastal areas, he said. Sequeira also explained that the High Court has taken a stringent position after it was brought to its notice by the amicus curiae.
Citing the notices and also demolition ordered by the courts, Lobo had said that an atmosphere of fear has spread among the residents along the coast.
Several other MLAs including Vijay Sardesai, Delilah Lobo, Venzy Viegas, Jeet Arolkar, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco and Carlos Alvares Ferreira participated in the discussion and expressed their views, many of who were in the favour of the government coming up with an administrative or legislative cure for most of these structures.
Finally Chief Minister Dr. Sawant commented on this targeted suggestion. CZMP belongs to the Centre. It is necessary to follow it. At the same time, it is necessary to save the houses and small scale industries of the locals. The Chief Minister said on this occasion that an effort will be made to find a way through discussions with the Central Government.
