The high and mighty, including politicians, media barons and hoteliers have been blatantly violating the Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ) in Goa, the State’s Environment Minister told the Assembly.
Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, in her reply said that the Goa State Costal Zone Management Authority had received around 131 cases of violations.
The CRZ regulations regulate constructions within 500 metres of the High Tide line along the coast.
Her list includes 25 five-star hotels and resorts including Park Hyatt hotel in Arossim beach in South Goa.
A complaint has also been filed against one Anthony Fonseca, Prannoy Roy, head of NDTV for alleged “illegal construction of a structure/hotel project. Illegal cutting of sand dunes, illegal road being built to the beach (and) illegal excavation.” The complainant alleges that the area falls within 200 metres from the HTl which is declared a no development zone.
Mining company Sesa Goa has also been accused of constructing an illegal iron ore loading jetty, Saldanha said.
It’s not just the private players who have complaints against them. Two Government agencies the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Water Resources Department (WRD) have also been accused to violating the directives.
While the WRD has been accused of constructing an “illegal construction of a retaining wall of concrete” along the river Sal, GTDC’s resort at Colva beach in South Goa has been accused of building a ground plus one structure.
Where there’s violations, politicians are not too far away.
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Anil Hoble is facing a complaint for “illegally encroached the Government land and converted to their own use by forging documents”.
So is the wife of former Deputy Chief Minister Dayanand Narvekar, Sushma, proprietor of Golden Heritage has also been named for constructing illegal constructions in the CRZ area.
The GCZMA has a very poor record over the last few years of acting against complaints with most cases ending at the sending of notice stage and no further action.