MARGAO
Invoking the Polluter Pays principle perhaps for the first time in recent times against hotels violating sewage discharge, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has slapped a penalty of Rs 63 lakh on a Colva-based resort for operating the hotel in violation of the Board’s directions issued under the Water and Air Acts.
The penalty amount was computed by the GSPCB in-house committee on methodology for assessing Environmental Compensation and Action Plan to utilise the fund as per the norms and directions laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board.
“The Office of the Board has calculated that you would be liable to pay an amount of Rs 63,10,000 (Rs Sixty Three Lakhs Ten Thousand Only) as Environmental Compensation to the Board, under the Polluter Pays Principal for non-compliance to the directions,” the Board’s letter to the owner stated.
The resort owner has been given seven days to show cause why the management of the unit should not pay the amount of Rs 63 lakhs for violations of the directions issued under section 33 (A) read with section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and under section 31 (A) read with section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The GSPCB has warned that failure to satisfactorily reply to the show cause notice within the stipulated time period will compel the Board to initiate stringent legal action under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 without any further notice.
A perusal of the GSPCB order stated that the Board had issued directions to stop the operation of the unit till the management rectifies the STP Plant with immediate effect and submit a compliance report to this office. This follows a complaint lodged by social activist Judith Almeida, Secretary, Colva Civic & Consumer Forum, in the Colva creek matter.
Commenting on the GSPCB order, Judith stated that the GSPCB should implement its orders in both letter and spirit so as to bring about a change on the ground. “We have been waging a battle to save the Colva creek from contamination for over a decade now. This is perhaps the first time the GSPCB has invoked the polluter pays principle. Hope the GSPCB takes the matter to the logical conclusion and save the creek from destruction”, she said.
Meanwhile, the social activist has dashed off a letter to the Chairman/Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Director of Tourism, and the Chairman/Member Secretary, Goa State Pollution Control Boardt with a plea to implement the 2023 order passed by the High Court in the villages of Colva and Sernabatim.
In the letter, she pointed out that the Forum has over the last few years saw similar blatant violations as mentioned in the 2023 High Court Order has been notices in the village of Colva and Sernbatim.
“Hence, implementation of the High Court order, with reference to para 75 A - E applies to the entire NDZ of all the coastal villages. This Forum requests the three departments to conduct site inspection of the NDZ of Colva and Sernabatim and wherever the violations are found, take action under intimation to this forum. There are also open wells constructed in the NDZ and the use of ground water for commercial activity which is prohibited as per the CRZ Notification 1991/2011 must also be demolished,” she stated.
Authorities move to cut off water, power supply to Colva resort
Days after the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) passed an order for the demolition of the structure of a resort at Colva for CRZ violations, South Goa Additional Collector, Srinet Kothwale on Friday directed the Deputy Collector, Margao to disconnect electricity and water connection of the resort.
The Additional Collector’s order comes following the letter from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority Director Johnson Fernandes to the South District authorities to disconnect the power and water supply of the unit.
The Deputy Collector has been told to execute the GCZMA order immediately and submit a compliance report to the office of GCZMA within three days under intimation to the Collector’s office.
The GCZMA had passed directions to demolish the illegal structures identified with alphabet A to G on the site plan of the hotel property as they were found to be in violation of the CRZ Notification 1991. The order passed by GCZMA was challenged by the owner before the NGT (West Zone) Pune before the Tribunal upheld the NGT order.
