Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was today said that the Goa government would file an intervene petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court order directing the sealing of commercial establishments at Anjuna.
“We have requested that a High Court intervention petition be filed. Additionally, the government is requesting that the Supreme Court intervene in favor of those with legitimate business and construction licenses, challenging that order,” said Sawant
He further said that the government is prepared to assist them, he said. He claimed that false information submitted to the court by the Anjuna Panchayat and Panchayat Secretary caused the High Court to issue a sealing order for 175 local businesses.
“Obviously, the Panchayat Secretary made a mistake,” Sawant declared. He claimed that the Panchayat and Secretary had made incorrect statements and submitted an incorrect affidavit to the court.
Due to a lack of permissions from various authorities, a High Court has ordered the panchayat to cease operations of 175 commercial establishments along the popular Anjuna beach, including numerous restaurants and lodges.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has granted permission to 45 of these commercial setups, according to the court’s observations (GCZMA).
In a similar vein, roughly 130 of these 175 structures do not possess any permits under section 66 of the Panchayat Raj Act nor clearance from the GCZMA. The court stated that the majority of these structures lack any trade licenses.
According to the court’s ruling, if such structures lack occupancy certificates and clearances required by the GCZMA, Panchayat Raj Act, town planning regulations, and Health Act, they cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Interestingly, Anjuna Villagers defied the order yesterday by calling for the government to step in and allow them to carry on with their lawfully operated businesses. They accomplished this by holding a sizable public meeting.
The villagers of Anjuna staged a peaceful protest at Starco Junction, on Monday, drawing attention to the State’s failure to resolve the long pending Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) issue. This protest followed a High Court order directing the closure and demolition of 175 ‘illegally operating’ commercial establishments.