Panaji: The Union MoEFCC’s Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to a controversial project at Bambolim village following protests by a local political outfit.
The Revolutionary Goans Party began an agitation against the controversial project by M/s Worldwide Resorts and Entertainment Private Limited at Bambolim village near Panaji on Monday. Party MLA Viresh Borkar, along with party president Manoj Parab, began a protest in Panaji city against the project, terming it destructive to the environment.
As the protests continued on Tuesday, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, which functions under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, issued a stop work notice to the project.
State Environment Director Sachin Desai, who is also the Member Secretary of the Authority, ruled that the construction activity was undertaken by M/s Worldwide Resorts and Entertainment Private Limited without obtaining prior Environment Clearance as prescribed under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.
Desai stated that the application for the Environment Clearance is still pending before the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
The stop work order states: “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Authority directs you (the company) to stop the work with immediate effect.”
The Authority also ruled that the company must ensure no civil work of any kind or nature is carried out at the said site.
“Failure to comply with the directions shall attract action under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which includes imprisonment or fine,” the order reads.
