Goa High Court has raised serious alarms regarding the unchecked proliferation of illegal constructions and encroachments in coastal areas, specifically targeting the Arambol region. While presiding over a writ petition on the matter, the Court voiced its strong dissatisfaction with local authorities’ persistent failure to execute demolition orders against these unauthorized structures. Underscoring the severity of this issue, the High Court has formally demanded a comprehensive response from the Goa Government, seeking accountability for the widespread non-compliance in protecting the state’s ecologically sensitive shorelines.
The scale of these violations has prompted decisive judicial intervention, revealing a blatant disregard for coastal regulations. Recent investigations presented to the Court, including affidavits from the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Authority and the local village panchayat, have identified over 250 illegal structures—both temporary and permanent—in areas like Girkarwado in Arambol. Consequently, the High Court has directed the relevant authorities to immediately issue show-cause notices for these unauthorized buildings and has ordered the Goa State Pollution Control Board to take stringent action, including the sealing of structures operating without proper consent.
This judicial crackdown highlights a broader systemic failure in enforcing No Development Zone (NDZ) rules across Goa’s coastal belt. In related actions, the Court has not hesitated to order the immediate cessation of commercial activities and the disconnection of utilities for large-scale violations, such as unauthorized multi-story hotels operating within 50 meters of the seashore without necessary permissions. By holding both the violators and negligent panchayat officials accountable, the High Court is sending a stern warning that environmental regulations and the rule of law must be strictly upheld to prevent the irreversible degradation of Goa’s coastal environment.
