Officials cite confusion as only temporary structures razed; critics demand stricter compliance
ENFORCEMENT PAUSE: Some portions of the Morjim resort were demolished on Monday, with officials claiming the drive would continue. However, no demolition activity was seen at the site on Tuesday, raising questions over the pace and intent of enforcement.
MAPUSA
In what critics have described as a token exercise, authorities on Monday carried out limited demolition at the allegedly illegal La Alphonso Marina Resorts and Spa at Morjim, razing only a handful of structures even as larger portions of the project remain standing, fuelling fresh questions over the seriousness of enforcement.
According to officials, the demolition squad, acting on directions of the district collector, demolished a security cabin, a generator room and a few temporary structures at the site.
However, no demolition activity was undertaken on Tuesday, despite earlier indications that action would continue.
An official associated with the demolition drive admitted that the action so far was only partial.
“There are a lot of structures at the site which are required to be demolished. It is not possible to complete the exercise in a single day,” the official said.
He further disclosed that the demolition order itself was “confusing” and lacked clarity on the exact structures to be razed. “We will be seeking clarity from higher authorities on what precisely is to be demolished,” he added.
The official maintained that the process had not been halted.
“The demolition drive will continue. A report on the action taken so far will be submitted to the deputy collector,” he said, without committing to a clear timeline.
The limited action has drawn sharp criticism from the complainant, Sagardeep Sirsaikar, who has been pursuing the matter with regulatory authorities.
Sirsaikar said he has now written to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) seeking strict compliance with its directions and a detailed report on the demolition carried out.
“What has been done so far does not reflect the scale of violations identified. This appears more cosmetic than corrective,” he alleged.
As reported earlier, the La Alphonso Marina Resorts and Spa project has been under the scanner following complaints of large-scale violations, including unauthorised construction in a sensitive coastal area.
Regulatory authorities had ordered demolition after finding that the structures were raised in violation of applicable norms. However, repeated delays and piecemeal action have led to allegations that enforcement is being diluted.
With major portions of the resort complex still intact, the episode has once again highlighted the widening gap between demolition orders on paper and their execution on the ground, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability and intent.
