The High Court of Bombay has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the illegal structures existing within the no development zone (NDZ) of the Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ) areas of Colva village.
D. Pangam, Advocate General, states that the report about mapping of structures existing within the NDZ of CRZ areas of Colva village is already prepared and filed before the High Court.
Om D’Costa, Advocate for the petitioner argued that they have certain objections to the mapping exercise carried out. He states that these objections have been set out in the affidavit which he craves leave to file in the petition.
Although the High Court granted leave to file such an affidavit, the Division Bench of M. S. Sonak and Justice Bharat P. Deshpande does not propose to go into such objections.
This is because the Court thinks that such objections can be appropriately raised by the Petitioners before the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR), which is the authority that has prepared the report.
The Directorate of Settlement & Land Records (DSLR) and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) should consider theobjections and dispose of the Petitioners’ representation in this regard as expeditiously as possible and in any case, within four months from the date of receipt.
The decisions should be communicated to the Petitioners.
Advocate General further stated that decisions have already been taken by the GCZMA in 9 out of 10 show-cause notices.
He apprised the Court that the formal orders will be issued within ten days from today. This statement is accepted and the GCZMA is directed by the High Court to act accordingly.
Advocate General further stated that the show-cause notice which remains to be disposed of will also be appropriately disposed of within two months . Even this statement is accepted and theGCZMA is directed by the High Court to act accordingly.
Byron Rodrigues , Counsel for the Panchayat has also made a statement that the Panchayat has started the process of identifying the illegal structures based on the mapping provided by the DSLR and theGCZMA.
He reiterates that this process of identification will be completed within the timeline indicated in our order dated 23.08.2022.He states that after that show-cause notices will be issued to the alleged violators and even such show-cause notices will be disposed of expeditiously.
According to the High Court , Panchayat must endeavour to dispose of the show-cause notices within three months from the date of their issue.