Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Forest Department and the three Comunidades have received notices from the Bombay High Court in Goa in response to claims of extensive khazan land landfilling in Merces. Adv Nigel Da Costa Frias was appointed as Amicus Curiae by Justice M S Karnik and Valmiki Menezes’ Division Bench in the Public Interest Litigation (Writ Petition) brought against the State government and nine other parties.
According to petitioner Kashinath Shetye, seven survey numbers from the Comunidades of Morombi-o-pequeno, Morombi-o-grande, and Murda showed extensive filling of khazan lands, which caused significant degradation of mangroves.
The petition claims that “no proper action has been taken by these authorities for this environmental degradation,” despite complaints to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Village Panchayat of Merces, the Collector of North Goa, and the Forest Department.
The Bench allowed the three Comunidade and the Forest Department to be added as party respondents, but it also issued notices that were due back on July 16.
Additional Government Advocate Deep Shirodkar promised the court that a report would be filed by the next hearing date, but he also requested more time to receive instructions regarding the action taken by the Forest Department.
The Bench then appointed Advocate Shane Coutinho to support Da Costa Frias in this matter and urged him to serve as an amicus curiae for the Court.
