Goa coastal body objects to Caranzalem park

The Goa Costal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed Babush Monserratte, the town and country planning minister, to stop work at the proposed joggers' park at Caranzalem.GCZMA will inspect the site soon.

GCZMA keeps a vigil on the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) guideline. In a recent meeting, it decided to inspect the beach to make sure that the proposed park was not violating the 100 mt CRZ rule. Caranzalem comes under Monserratte's constituency.

The state Chief Secretary J P Singh who is also chairman of GCZMA said that the next hearing on the joggers' park would be on April 28.

The members feel that the project might disturb the sand dunes. Also, the project consultant has re-channelised the traditional creek passing through the land. Hence there is an immediate need to inspect the site to know the reality.

Singh said that the authority had examined few cases of CRZ violation and accordingly decided to proceed as per the norms. The application seeking CRZ clearance for the jogger's park was received on April 21, 2006, said sources.

Some members objected to the government department going ahead with the construction without CRZ clearance. The authority said that the department should not do such things.

Sources said the authority had refused to grant the CRZ clearance to a project promoted by a politician along Candolim-Sequirim belt. Some members pointed out that the authority had earlier issued an order directing demolition of a certain portion of a project promoted by the same politician.

On another residential project at Caranzalem, the authority has directed the owner to restrict to the CRZ clearance given in 1996. The authority clarified that if he wanted to proceed as per the revised plan, he would need fresh clearance.

The meeting also discussed the issue of cutting mangroves along Panaji-Bambolim stretch for the construction of a hotel.

The authority also issued demolition orders against small commercial establishments at Arambol and Pomburpa where construction was carried out within 200 mt of the CRZ.