MARGAO
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed a resort at Sernabatim to immediately stop all construction work going on at the site and to show cause why a direction to demolish/ remove the illegalities and restore the land to its original conditions should not be issued.
The show cause notice cum stop work order issued under the Environment Protection Act further asked the party to show cause why environmental compensation/ penalty should not be imposed upon them for causing environmental damage. The GCZMA Member Secretary, Dasharath Redkar has further directed the party to ensure that no construction activity of whatsoever kind and nature is carried out at the said site.
The action follows a complaint lodged by the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida with photos that black rocks have been dumped alongside an alleged illegal concrete wall.
Saying that upon perusal of the complaint and photos, videos attached to said complaint, Authority has noted blatant and serious violation of CRZ Notification 2011, Redkar pointed out that as per the CRZ Notification, 2011; the entire belt of 100 mts from the High Tide Line (HTL) of river and 200mts. from the HTL from the sea is designated as the No Development Zone (NDZ. Hence, he pointed out that no construction/development whatsoever is permissible in the said belt, adding that the alleged illegal construction is highly detrimental to the Coastal ecosystem / riverine ecosystem.
The GCZMA Director has further stated that it is observed that the ongoing construction is underway without obtaining any prior approval of the GCZMA for alleged construction as required under the CRZ Notification 1991/2011.
The resort has been told to file a reply along with a compliance report and produce construction/ reconstruction/ repair licence/ approvals, if any, issued by the concerned authorities including GCZMA along with the approved plan, as also documents to show the title to the Office of the GCZMA.
The GCZMA Member secretary has warned that if the party fails to submit the reply along with the required documents, the agency will conclude that the party has no justification to carry out its activities and the Authority shall proceed to issue final directions to you in this regard without any further notice which inter alia includes the order of demolition of structures, disconnection of water/ power supply, etc.