Sinquerim wall spurs plaint, coastal body inspects site

Calangute: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Wednesday conducted a site inspection in a property bearing Survey No. 88/1A and 1B at Sinquerim, Candolim, following a complaint about an illegal wall.The complaint had been filed by the Calangute Constituency Forum alleging that the compound wall violates coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules.The well-known, scenic property changed hands a few years ago.The complaint to the member-secretary of the GCZMA and other authorities states that the “construction is in violation of…the Environment Protection Act, and falls in the CRZ and no-development zone (NDZ).”The complaint adds, “It is pertinent to note that as per official records, the NGPDA (North Goa Planning and Development Authority) had denied permission to its previous owner for doing any such development in the said property.”The complaint goes on to say, “Despite this, the present owner has undertaken a new construction of a compound wall disregarding the directions given by the GCZMA and environmental regulations/coastal protection laws and other laws in force.” However, the owners of the property were not present during the inspection.The GCZMA team consisted of Radha Rao, Bhargavi Kelkar and Raunat Dessai.