Goa: GCZMA Slaps Rs 7.7 Mn Fine for CRZ Violation in Arambol
07 Jan 2025
2 Min Read
CW Team
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 7.7 million for the construction of a ground plus four-storey structure within 50 metres of the CRZ area in Arambol. The violation was discovered after a local resident approached the high court in 2023, alleging that various local authorities had failed to take action against the CRZ breach.
Following this, the high court directed the Pernem Police Inspector and Arambol panchayat to seal the structure. In November 2023, the court expressed disappointment that its order for the demolition of the illegal structure had been misinterpreted, causing a delay in the demolition by the panchayat.
The court further granted the Directorate of Panchayat the authority to recover the costs incurred due to the panchayat鈥檚 delay.
In July 2024, GCZMA鈥檚 expert members conducted a site inspection and found that the structure was situated in the no-development zone of CRZ-III, within the mangrove buffer zone, classified as CRZ-1A. They observed that the violator had not fully demolished the structures.
However, the GCZMA experts concluded that the violator should be held accountable for the environmental damage and degradation caused.
The GCZMA stated that the respondent was obligated to compensate for the environmental harm by funding ecological restoration and restoring the land to its original condition, as required by the CRZ Notification of 2011 and the Environmental Protection Act. This included removing residue and RCC footings below ground level. Despite previous inspections by the GCZMA team, the site had not been cleared.
The GCZMA clarified that it used May 4, 2017, as the starting date for calculating compensation, extending to August 2024, which amounted to more than seven years. The compensation amount was determined by multiplying the number of years by the area of violation in square meters, then multiplying by Rs 2,590 per square metre. This amount had been established earlier by the GCZMA in a study on environmental compensation for coastal damage.
Based on this formula, the GCZMA calculated the compensation amount to be Rs 7.7 million.
The GCZMA explained that this formula was applied because the respondent had committed violations in the NDZ area, resulting in significant damage to the local ecology and biodiversity.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 7.7 million for the construction of a ground plus four-storey structure within 50 metres of the CRZ area in Arambol. The violation was discovered after a local resident approached the high court in 2023, alleging that various local authorities had failed to take action against the CRZ breach.
Following this, the high court directed the Pernem Police Inspector and Arambol panchayat to seal the structure. In November 2023, the court expressed disappointment that its order for the demolition of the illegal structure had been misinterpreted, causing a delay in the demolition by the panchayat.
The court further granted the Directorate of Panchayat the authority to recover the costs incurred due to the panchayat鈥檚 delay.
In July 2024, GCZMA鈥檚 expert members conducted a site inspection and found that the structure was situated in the no-development zone of CRZ-III, within the mangrove buffer zone, classified as CRZ-1A. They observed that the violator had not fully demolished the structures.
However, the GCZMA experts concluded that the violator should be held accountable for the environmental damage and degradation caused.
The GCZMA stated that the respondent was obligated to compensate for the environmental harm by funding ecological restoration and restoring the land to its original condition, as required by the CRZ Notification of 2011 and the Environmental Protection Act. This included removing residue and RCC footings below ground level. Despite previous inspections by the GCZMA team, the site had not been cleared.
The GCZMA clarified that it used May 4, 2017, as the starting date for calculating compensation, extending to August 2024, which amounted to more than seven years. The compensation amount was determined by multiplying the number of years by the area of violation in square meters, then multiplying by Rs 2,590 per square metre. This amount had been established earlier by the GCZMA in a study on environmental compensation for coastal damage.
Based on this formula, the GCZMA calculated the compensation amount to be Rs 7.7 million.
The GCZMA explained that this formula was applied because the respondent had committed violations in the NDZ area, resulting in significant damage to the local ecology and biodiversity.
Next Story
Railway Board Approves Survey for 4th Terminal Near Bengaluru
The Railway Board has approved a Final Location Survey for a mega coaching terminal near Bengaluru airport. The proposed terminal, to be located near Devanahalli or along the Yelahanka鈥揇evanahalli鈥揅hikkaballapur route, is estimated to cost Rs 13.5 million.According to South Western Railway, the new terminal will decongest Bengaluru鈥檚 overburdened railway infrastructure and meet growing passenger demand. It will serve as the fourth terminal, offering operational flexibility and capacity to handle thirty-six rakes daily.The design includes twelve pit lines, five washing lines, twenty-four ..
Next Story
GMR Takes Over Cargo Terminal Operations at IGI Airport
GMR Airports Limited has been awarded the concession to operate, maintain and manage the existing cargo terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. The move follows the immediate termination of Celebi鈥檚 agreement by Delhi International Airport Limited, a GMR subsidiary.The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a directive on May fifteen, revoking the security clearance of Celebi group entities in India due to national security concerns. In compliance, DIAL cancelled Celebi鈥檚 concession and reassigned the responsibility to GMR, which already holds the required security clearance..
Next Story
High-Tech ATC Tower Inaugurated at Kolhapur Airport
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has inaugurated a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at Kolhapur Airport. The inauguration also included a Technical Block and Fire Station, enhancing the airport鈥檚 safety and operational readiness.Mohol flagged off the first Star Air flight between Kolhapur and Nagpur as part of the event. He stated that the high-tech ATC tower marks a vital milestone in modernising air traffic infrastructure at the airport. The development is aimed at improving safety, emergency response, and regional air connectivity in Maharashtra.The minister r..