Nazri resort demolition begins after years-long legal battle

Excavators raze illegal portions of the Nazri resort at Calangute on Tuesday.

MAPUSA
In a dramatic development in one of Goa's most high-profile environmental violation cases, demolition of the illegal portion of the Nazri beach resort at Calangute began on Tuesday morning, nearly eight years after the first demolition order was issued and more than two years after all legal challenges were exhausted.
Excavators were seen bringing down parts of the resort early in the day, indicating that the owners of the property, including Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, have finally initiated compliance with judicial directions after repeatedly facing scrutiny over delays in executing the demolition order.
The demolition follows an undertaking given before the Bombay High Court by M/s Elite Builders, the partnership firm that owns the resort, that the illegal structures would be removed by May 31.
The High Court had accepted the undertaking and disposed of a contempt petition after being informed that the demolition would be completed within the stipulated period.
Significantly, government authorities distanced themselves from Tuesday's demolition exercise.
Officials from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Mamlatdar's office confirmed that no government agency was carrying out the demolition and that the owners themselves appeared to have undertaken the exercise.
"The owners will have to submit a compliance report to the High Court. We have not undertaken any demolition of the Nazri Resort," a senior GCZMA official told The Goan.
Structure ordered to be demolished
The controversy centres around a ground-plus-four-storey building, identified as "Building A" of the Nazri Beach Resort, with a built-up area of approximately 1,500 square metres.
The GCZMA had ordered its demolition in July 2018 after concluding that it had been illegally constructed within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and No Development Zone without obtaining mandatory coastal clearance. The authority also directed that the land be restored to its original condition.
The GCZMA had further held that permissions obtained for the project were based on a purported GCZMA letter that was later alleged to be forged. The authority concluded that the structures in Survey Nos. 319/2, 319/3, 319/5 and 319/12 of Calangute village lacked valid coastal clearance and were liable for demolition.
Supreme Court closed all legal doors
The demolition order survived challenges before every judicial forum.
After the GCZMA's 2018 order, Elite Builders challenged it before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), arguing that the resort lay outside the CRZ area and that earlier permissions protected the construction. The NGT rejected those arguments and upheld the demolition order.
The matter was then taken to the Supreme Court. However, on April 8, 2024, the apex court dismissed the appeal and refused to interfere with the findings of the authorities and the NGT, effectively making the demolition order final and binding.
Despite the Supreme Court verdict, the structure remained standing for over two years, prompting allegations that authorities were deliberately delaying enforcement.
Contempt proceedings trigger action
The latest demolition exercise comes after activist and petitioner Desmond Alvares approached the Bombay High Court accusing the GCZMA, State authorities and the Calangute Panchayat of failing to execute the demolition despite clear judicial orders.
The High Court subsequently issued notices and sought explanations regarding the prolonged inaction. Facing mounting pressure, the resort owners informed the court that they would themselves undertake the demolition and complete it by May 31.
More legal trouble ahead?
Even as demolition has commenced, the legal battle appears far from over.
Alvares said he intends to initiate fresh contempt proceedings seeking recovery of environmental compensation and accountability for the prolonged delay in implementing the demolition order.
With portions of the resort finally being razed after years of litigation, the case has become a significant test of whether environmental laws and court orders can be enforced against politically influential individuals.