Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority(GCZMA) to submit a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within 3 weeks specifying a roadmap as to how illegal structures would be handled.
The matter is now scheduled for a hearing on July 22. The roadmap is expected to specify steps to be taken for the demolition of illegal structures as well as recovering the cost of environmental damage from the violators.
The Court was hearing the Suo Motu PIL in connection with illegal structures at Girkarwado, Arambol. GCZMA had identified 216 illegal structures in the area and issued demolition orders to 88 structures.
In order to collect the cost of environmental damage from the offenders, the GSPCB is required to prepare a road map for the demolition of illegal structures.
According to the GCZMA, 216 illegal constructions were discovered in Girkarwado in total. 88 demolition orders have been issued, no appeals have been lodged, and the relevant authorities have not yet dismantled the illegal structures.
Giving specifics of the illegal buildings that the former Sarpanch Bernard Fernandes and his family possessed, the GCZMA stated that a total of 28 illegal buildings were found to be owned by Bernard and his family.
