On Nov 12, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had informed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to act against six jetties, as these did not have valid permissions. But the GCZMA just issued show-cause notices instead of shutting the jetties. Recently, the NGT warned the GCZMA of levying penalties if operations were not immediately stopped.
In the past too, there are cases of the GCZMA having paid penalties. The NGT has imposed a Rs 50,000 penalty on the GCZMA for not having filed an affidavit in the pending sand mining matter. Similarly, even the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has been fined for errors and omissions. In all such cases, who foots the penalties – the officials for dereliction of duties and turning a blind eye to the alleged illegalities (constructions) and a deaf ear (noise and dust)? Or the GCZMA and GSPCB for negligence?
If these bodies are bearing the fines, then such activities will continue and the concerned officials would go scot-free. Incidentally, under the RTI, if some information is not provided or not provided on time, then the officer/s responsible for the same is/are penalised and taken to task.
