Show cause notice issued to owners, further civil work barred at site
MAPUSA
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has issued a show cause notice to owners of a property in Corjuem-Aldona, questioning alleged illegal landfilling and construction activity being carried out without the necessary approvals under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011.
Following an inspection conducted nearly two months ago, GCZMA officials reported that landfilling was actively underway on the property identified as Survey No 193/1 in Corjuem.
The Authority noted that the site falls within CRZ–III (No Development Zone along rivers) and almost entirely within CRZ–IA, which includes a 50-metre mangrove buffer zone, as per the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011.
In its report, the GCZMA highlighted what it described as gross illegal construction in violation of CRZ norms. "The alleged construction/activity appears to be without any prior approval of GCZMA as required under the CRZ Notification, 2011," said GCZMA Member Secretary Sachin Desai.
The property in question, located adjacent to the Mapusa Tar River, is classified as a paddy field under the Regional Plan 2021.
The issue was first brought to the authority's attention by former panchayat member Thomas Tavares, who flagged concerns over suspected unauthorised land development in the ecologically sensitive zone.
In its notice, the GCZMA has directed the owners to explain why demolition of the structures and restoration of the land to its original state should not be ordered. The notice also bars any further civil work of any kind at the site until further orders.
The owners have been instructed to submit a detailed reply, including a compliance report and copies of all relevant construction, reconstruction, or repair licenses and approvals – particularly from the GCZMA – along with sanctioned plans by June 3.
They have also been summoned to appear for a personal hearing on the same day at 3.30 pm at the GCZMA office.
