Land-filling destroys khazan at Velim, salt pan in Panaji

Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has recently found that illegal land-filling is destroying a mangrove area and khazan land at Velim as well as a salt pan in Panaji.

GCZMA experts inspected the site of the violation at Velim based on a local’s complaint and found “gross illegal construction violating the CRZ Notification 2011”. The area was found to be fully in khazan land, partly covering a mangrove area and partly a river or creek.

“It was observed that the alleged site was partially fenced with a green net, and laterite stones were stacked on one side. It was observed that debris was stacked between the alleged fenced boundary and the stacked stones,” the inspection report stated.

The authority has directed the violator to restore the land back to its original state within 30 days, including removing the net, debris, and laterite stones.

Based on a complaint by a Saligao resident, the GCZMA’s officials verified the allegations of illegal filling of a salt pan in Panaji. The inspection confirmed that filling was carried out with mud and debris. The area was found to be fully within the CRZ II area, partly in the mangrove buffer zone, and fully a salt pan.

“There exists a water body within the property, and land filling was carried out on the edge of the water body, creating a mud road. It is also observed that mass stacking of debris was done at an extreme point,” the inspection report stated.

The GCZMA sought from the police and the RTO the details of the owner of the truck that was found on the property. This violator was then issued a show cause notice.