MAPUSA
The Supreme Court paved the way for the demolition of a hotel/resort in Siolim built on government land in violation of coastal zone regulations and without obtaining permission from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi dismissed the plea of the hotel owners thereby reviving the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa which had directed the sealing and demolition of the hotel.
The High Court had red-flagged the construction for encroaching on government land and further degrading the environment by putting up the hotel in the eco-sensitive CRZ area without bothering to obtain any permissions from GCZMA.
The hotel with 22 rooms has been constructed on government land on the banks of Chapora River at Uddo, Siolim.
The Supreme Court last week dismissed a special leave petition of Sushil Kumar and others challenging the High Court order on the demolition of the hotel on default.
The High Court in September 2021 ordered the demolition of the hotel built on government land that also violated the CRZ notification.
A resident of Siolim, Alex Pereira, had knocked on the doors of the High Court after the authorities were found dragging their feet in taking prompt action against the illegal structures.
Besides the hotel, the GCZMA had issued show-cause notices to a dozen other structures on the banks of Chapora River at Uddo, Siolim for violation of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules.
With the Supreme Court order, the existence of these structures has also come under the scanner.
“We are aware of the recent SC order on the hotel in Siolim. We have to place the order before the authority meeting which will then decide the next course of action,” an official of the GCZMA told The Goan.
