Latest news with #GCZMA
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Tourism dept seeks action over illegal sand extraction at Varca
Panaji: The tourism department took serious note of unauthorised sand extraction and alteration of natural dunes using an excavator along Varca beach. Tourism director Kedar Naik stated that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Colva police have been instructed to initiate legal action against those who extracted sand from the beach. The tourism department forwarded the video from Wednesday to the GCZMA and police, which shows an excavator moving sand on Varca beach, violating the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act, 2001. 'The department took serious cognisance of a recent incident involving illegal activities along the Varca beach stretch, which is a clear violation of environmental norms. Any activity detrimental to the environment, especially in sensitive coastal zones, will not be tolerated. Strict action will be pursued in accordance with the law,' said Naik.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt allots land for crematoriums in Morjim, Mandrem
Mapusa: State govt has allotted land for crematoriums in Morjim and Mandrem. The crematorium is expected to resolve a critical and sensitive issue for the residents of these villages, ensuring dignified final rites for the deceased. Govt has provided a place for the cemetery for the fishermen at Vithaldaswada in Morjim, and the allotment letter was handed over to the local panchayat member Vilas Morje. The traditional fisherfolk at Morjim had sought relaxations from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to carry out repairs and renovations at their crematorium, near a turtle nesting site. The fisherfolk from Vithaldaswada had asked the GCZMA to allow them to repair the crematorium's compound wall or at least permit them to carry out bio-fencing. Morjim residents used to face difficulties in conducting final rites due to a lack of a crematorium. There was once an incident of a body lying for an extended period in Mandrem and an incident wherein the local residents attempted to take a body to the chief minister's official residence at Panaji. Former MLA Dayanand Sopte said that the citizens of Vithaldaswada did not have a proper cemetery. The residents were pursuing the issue for many years. Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar welcomed the cabinet decision of allotting 2,000 sqm land for crematorium in Mandrem. This was a long pending demand of the locals, he said. In 2011, over hundred of residents of Bagwado, Morjim, had marched towards the chief minister's residence along with a body of a 55-year-old woman after a Delhi-based businessman had refused to allow cremation at the traditional crematorium. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘Model shack not novel, can't use cement on beach'
Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has asked the special purpose vehicle (SPV) of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to clarify how sewage treatment will be carried out at the model shack it has proposed to build on the beaches of Colva, Benaulim, Arambol, and Calangute. The GCZMA has said that the 'innovative' idea is not innovative as GTDC is still using material like steel and cement for the construction. The GCZMA has called the SPV for a presentation before it to explain the concept and show in its plan how waste will be treated. 'The application is for construction of a model shack, made up of composite bamboo material on beaches. The name 'model shack' suggests that the GTDC has come up with an innovative idea for a shack. Once this shack is constructed, it will be a model for others to follow. However, the idea is not innovative and along with bamboo, it uses the usual material like mild steel, cement boards etc. The details of sewage/toilet waste treatment are also not provided,' the GCZMA observed at a recent meeting. The GTDC has said in its proposal that the model shack will be 120sqm in area and has sought a CRZ nod from the GCZMA to construct the temporary model shacks, made of composite bamboo, on four beaches. However, the coastal body held an inspection and found that part of the plot falls in a no-development zone and part of it within the intertidal zone, while part of it had sand dunes. After the inspection, GCZMA experts told the GTDC that the shacks should be located outside the intertidal zone and away from sand dunes. There would be no obstruction or fencing around the sand dunes so as to obstruct wind flow, it said. The GTDC has also been told that it will not be allowed to use concrete even if it is only for support of the structure. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Recalculate Rs 39.5cr compensation, NGT tells coastal body
Panaji: The (NGT) has asked the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to recalculate the sum of Rs 39.5 crore imposed by it on a violator as environmental compensation. The GCZMA itself agreed that the calculation done by it was erroneous. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The appellant approached the NGT stating that the GCZMA did not have the Authority to impose such a fine as per provisions of the Environment Protection Act. The appeal was filed before the NGT seeking quashing of the GCZMA order imposing environmental compensation of Rs 39.5 crore. The appellant told the NGT that as per the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the penalty provided in respect of each contravention of the Act 'shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees'. The NGT was told by the appellant that Section 15(C), provides for the Adjudicating Officer, and said that it is the adjudicating officer who is empowered to determine the penalty and not the GCZMA. 'The next ground set up by the appellant in this appeal is that the formula, which has been relied upon by the GCZMA, has no statutory basis and that the same is not backed by any executive order and hence cannot be applied for imposing penalty under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,' the appellant told the GCZMA. The appellant said that the filling on the southern side which was to be removed, was completely beyond the no development zone and CRZ, which was only 43m from the High Tide Line. He said that therefore the GCZMA had absolutely no authority to impose any penalty in respect of an area which was beyond the CRZ. The NGT was told that since central govt itself has taken a decision to appoint adjudicating officer under the Environment Protection Act for arriving at penalty/compensation for violation of the Act, therefore the GCZMA has taken away impliedly the power from the adjudicating officer by calculating the amount of environmental compensation itself. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The appellant said that, in the computation of the environmental compensation, the entire extent of the subject site, measuring approximately 12,700sqm has been erroneously taken into account, whereas only an area of 3,360sqm falls within the CRZ. 'In view of the admission on the part of GCZMA that there appears to be some error in calculating the area and hence, they are inclined to recalculate the amount of environmental compensation, we are of the opinion that we should allow this appeal and set aside the order dated 18.12.2024 passed by GCZMA and remand the matter to GCZMA to decide afresh within a period of two months, keeping all the contentions of the parties open, and after providing an opportunity of hearing to all the parties concerned,' the NGT said.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
CM to unveil several projects
Gandhinagar: As the nationwide 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' campaign completed a year on June 5, the state govt said it planted 17.48 crore saplings and secured the second position in the country. Kutch district led by planting 2.95 lakh saplings over the past year, the govt said. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel will preside over the state-level environment day function at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre on Thursday to mark World Environment Day . He will unveil several projects of the environment and forests department at the event, a govt statement said on Wednesday. An official statement mentioned that 1.76 crore saplings were planted in rural areas of the state, while 15.72 crore saplings were planted in urban areas over the past year. The statement also noted that in Gujarat, 5,500 villages established 'Matruvan' as part of the 75th Van Mahotsav in 2024. Additionally, under the 'Van Kavach' scheme, 10,000 saplings were planted using the Miyawaki method, preparing 122 Van Kavach over 200 hectares in 2024-25. On Thursday, the chief minister will launch a dashboard for plastic waste management, update the GCZMA website, virtually inaugurate the new building of GPCB's Bharuch regional office, the air laboratory of GPCB's Morbi regional office, and the newly constructed CETP in Halol.
