Pontoon approvals in Mandovi a fraud

Date: 15^th May 2015

To,

The Chairman,

Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA),

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Captain of Ports,

Panjim, Goa

Sub:- Objections to Pontoon in Mandovi

Sir,

We have come through know from the minutes of the 113^th meeting of GCZMA held on 26^th February 2015 (case no. 7.5, page 32) that GCZMA has granted permission to M/s Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd in order to construct floating pontoon jetty in river Mandovi river adjacent to the plot bearing Survey no. 2/5, Panelim Village, Old Goa.

Site inspection report cited in the minutes points out “Any structure within river is bound to cause upstream and / or downstream erosion and / or accretion. Such activities need an EIA from competent authorities as stipulated in the CRZ 2011 rules.

Thereafter it is mentioned that “after detailed discussion and due deliberations and on considering the report of the site inspection conducted on 10/10/2014 by Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas, Expert member of GCZMA, the authority decided to approve  the proposal for the proposed construction of floating pontoon jetty in river Mandovi adjacent to the plot bearing Survey no. 2/5, Panelim village, Old Goa, Tiswadi Taluka, by M/s Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd with a condition that  the applicant should not carry out any land reclamation in the said area and further the Authority decided to direct the applicant to plant at least 200 mangroves in the property in consultation with the Forest Department and Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB)”

Bharat Mukti Morcha considers this approval to M/s Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd to construct 18 meters long and 10 meters deep floating Pontoon Jetty in Old Goa as fraud as the observation of Expert Member Antonio Mascarenhas to carry on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under CRZ 2011 rules before construction has been over looked and the transcripts of the “detailed discussion and due deliberations” held during the meeting are not recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Bharat Mukti Morcha calls for detail EIA report as well as Public Hearing on this and approvals granted to Pontoon Jetty construction by GCZMA as well as Captain of Ports must be revoked with immediate effect as it is nothing more than fraud.

Anticipating your quick action,

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

           Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa Unit

            Sd/-

Sanjay Harmalkar

Convener, Diwar Unit

          Sd/-

Rohidas Andrade

Convener, Bambolim Unit

         Sd/-

 Sanjay Pereira

Convener, Cacra Unit