The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) recently issued showcause notices to nine persons along the Palolem, Agonda and Devbag coasts in Canacona, and at Varca in Salcete, stating that their extensions, mainly residential structures, were carried out within the no-development zone (NDZ).
Most of the Goans who have been issued the notices have, however, told the GCZMA that their families have been residing in the structures since the pre-Liberation period. Goa was liberated from colonial rule in 1961.
Jayeer Bhikan Pagi and Sandip Bhikan Pagi, residents of Dhavalkhajan, Agonda, were told that the laterite wall they constructed falls within 200m of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) area.
The Pagis presented documents before the GCZMA showing that they have been residing in the house for 52 years, since before Goa’s liberation. They told the authority that they enjoy mundkarial rights over the property and said they had sought the Canacaona mamlatdar’s permission to repair the house as it was in a dilapidated condition and had developed cracks. The family presented the permission issued by the mamlatdar.
The GCZMA, however, issued showcause notices to the Pagis stating that they had not submitted any approvals for the structure falling within CRZ area.
Similarly, Shobha Pagi was issued a notice for similar alleged violation.
Shobha told the GCZMA that her husband had constructed the residential house prior to Liberation and that it was registered at the Agonda village panchayat. She further submitted a house tax receipt, electricity bill, Form I & XIV, survey plan and other documents.
Similar pleadings of their houses having already existed before Liberation were made by others, but they, too, were issued showcause notices. While the Desai family of Nagorcem in Canacona was found to have constructed a room close to the HTL, Shankar Pagi in Agonda was issued a showcause notice for construction of a ground-plus-one structure within 200m of the HTL.