The massive commercial structure taking shape near the seashore is situated on property provisionally attached by the Enforcement Directorate. Captured by : Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
Welcome to the Republic of Anjuna, where power and pelf seem to trump regulations, unauthorised constructions and blatant law violations are becoming alarmingly common.
The coastal village, famed for its beaches and vibrant nightlife, is now at the centre of a controversy that highlights the brazen disregard for the High Tide Line (HTL) and environmental laws.
Take, for example, a massive steel structure rapidly taking shape near the seashore.
This commercial construction, reportedly located at survey number 225/3 in Anjuna, flouts regulations prohibiting development in such ecologically sensitive zones.
Ironically, the property in question is one of 19 in Anjuna and Assagao that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached last year.
The ED’s attachment notice, published in a local daily, listed the properties under scrutiny, yet the construction frenzy continues.
Currently, a flurry of activity is observed at the site, with workers bustling around to erect the contentious structure.
Previously, an unauthorised resort operated there, which was later demolished under legal orders.
“The current construction appears to have been sold recently to a third party, a powerful club owner,” a local resident disclosed.
This tactic, the resident explained, is a common modus operandi for evading accountability. By transferring ownership, those involved in illegal construction aim to escape the authorities’ scrutiny.
An ED official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed their awareness of the ongoing activity.
“We are monitoring such properties. Action will be taken,” the official assured, though no timeline was provided.
The violations in Anjuna are not limited to this site.
Nearby, survey number 339/2 is home to Mahalaxmi, a restaurant operating in defiance of an ED attachment order and a High Court directive to seal 175 unauthorised establishments.
The restaurant continues to operate without fear of legal repercussions, highlighting a broader issue of regulatory laxity.
Further along the same coastal belt lies a popular nightclub and restaurant that has drawn similar criticism.
Despite previous legal pressure and public outrage forcing the club to demolish an unauthorised wooden structure at least thrice, it has last month once again erected another, extending into the sea.
The club’s premises fall within a designated no-development zone, making the new construction both illegal and ecologically harmful.
Coastal authorities have issued directives for dismantling such structures in the past, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Sources revealed that, following a complaint, the Tourism Department conducted an inspection of the wooden structure and prepared a detailed report.
A local activist stated that the matter is set to be brought before the High Court on January 27.
“This is not just about one structure or one club. If such violations go unchecked, they could set a dangerous precedent for the entire coastline,” remarked the activist.
Efforts to reach Anjuna Sarpanch Laxmidas Chimulkar were unsuccessful.
Anjuna’s ongoing saga of unauthorised development underscores the urgent need for stringent enforcement and accountability.
