Panaji: The Bombay High at Goa has issued notice to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Goa Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Goa Foundation seeking demolition of the Grand Hyatt at Bambolim.
The petition has been filed by Goa Foundation in public interest for recovery of a public beach at Bambolim, occupied illegally by the Hotel Grand Hyaat Goa. The notice is been issued on August 23.
The petitioner has pleaded that directions be issued to government to demolish all the constructions erected by Respondents in the area between 50 to 100 metres of the HTL and to restore the area to its original condition;
It has also pleaded for an order directing the respondent authorities to levy further exemplary and punitive damages for operating a resort without environment clearance and in violation of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act.
In its interim relief, the petitioner has sought that pending hearing and final disposal of this petition, the operation of the Grand Hyatt be stayed till further orders and to restrain Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) from granting any approval or NOC for the project and instead treating it as a CRZ violation.
Ministry of Environment and Forest is one of the key respondent in the matter along with State Chief Secretary, Chief Town Planner, GCZMA, Bambolim panchyat, Grand Hyatt and others.
Two earlier petitions filed by the Goa Foundation challenging the legality of the constructions occupied by the said resort were dealt with by judgements dated 26.2.2014 and 20.1.2015. These judgements held that the plans which the Respondents were relying upon for the legality of the constructions made were invalid. The judgements quashed the approvals granted.
