Coastal body acts on complaints received by villagers, biodiversity committee
MAPUSA
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has summoned Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for a personal hearing on March 25 regarding complaints of illegal construction on a beachside property in Anjuna village.
The authority acted on grievances raised by residents of Vagator-Anjuna and the Anjuna-Caisua Biodiversity Management Committee, along with the Village Panchayat of Anjuna-Caisua.
The complaints allege unauthorised construction within 50 metres of the High Tide Line (HTL) in a No Development Zone (NDZ) on a property identified as survey number 354/1 in Anjuna.
According to official land records (Form 1 and XIV), Michael Lobo is listed as the occupant of the property, as noted in the GCZMA notice.
Following a site inspection, the GCZMA issued a show-cause notice regarding the alleged violations.
In response, Lobo wrote to the authority on March 7, stating that the site had been cleared, with debris and structures removed.
Officials from the GCZMA later verified the site, prompting the authority to schedule a personal hearing for all parties involved.
Recently, concerns were raised by Anjuna-Vagator residents about alleged damage to sand dunes and vegetation on Lobo’s sea-facing property.
The villagers have called for the immediate revocation of any licenses that may have been granted for development at the site.
In his defence, Lobo has acknowledged ownership of the beachfront property in Vagator but denied any ongoing construction.
He asserted that his primary objective was to fence the area to prevent unauthorised encroachment and land grabbing.
The GCZMA’s hearing is expected to address the concerns of local residents and determine further action based on the findings of its inspection reports.
