Abdul Wahab Khan
Panaji
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has imposed environmental compensation amounting to Rs 87.86 crore in 53 cases over the past five years, but has managed to recover only Rs 64.29 lakh, which is 0.73 per cent of the total
penalties imposed.
The violations include unauthorised beach shacks, temporary bamboo structures, and permanent constructions in coastal regulation zone (CRZ) areas. The highest penalty was imposed on Ludovico Govia, who was fined Rs 39.46 crore for illegal construction in Siolim. Zone Hotels in Candolim was fined Rs 2.04 crore, while Harishchandra Naik’s violations across multiple plots in Mandrem attracted a penalty of Rs 91.75 lakh. In Arambol, Ashok Kandari was fined Rs 77.92 lakh, while James Barreto in Cavelossim and Barrel Yan Tree in Candolim were penalised Rs 21.5 lakh and
Rs 21.8 lakh respectively.
The data was disclosed during the monsoon assembly session in response to an unstarred question raised by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
In five years, GCZMA collected Rs 64.29 lakh from 23 cases in Mandrem, Morjim, Pernem, and Canacona. The highest recovery was from Anahata Retreat in Morjim, which paid Rs 7.60 lakh, followed by Casa Obrigado Cottages & Spa Royal Beach Resort (Rs 4.12 lakh) and Silent Bar and Restaurant (Rs 4.04 lakh). In Mandrem, Maria Fernandes’ Sunset Bar paid Rs 4.04 lakh, while Ramabai Shetgaonkar’s Elenar Beach Bar in Morjim paid Rs 1.10 lakh. Establishments owned by Francis Britto—Golden Goa Beach Shack (Rs 4.14 lakh) and World Peace (Rs 1.55 lakh)—also feature
among violators.
GCZMA has fixed environmental compensation at Rs 2,590 per square metre multiplied by the number of years with the total land area of the
violating structure.
An analysis of recoveries shows six cases in Morjim, eight in Mandrem, four in Pernem, and others in Canacona and Ashvem. Most cases involve tourism-related structures such as restaurants, shacks, cottages, and recreational facilities that either exceeded approved dimensions or were built without CRZ clearance. In Pernem, Black Horse beach shack owned by Joao Caetano Britto faced a penalty of Rs 8,636, while in Ashvem, Arun Shetgaonkar was fined Rs 5,397, Ramesh Shetgaonkar’s Yab Yam cottages Rs 5.98 lakh, and Machindra Shetgaonkar’s Tahira Beach Resort Rs 3.71 lakh. Food Planet Café owned by Bernat Fernandes was fined
Rs 4.27 lakh.
Enforcement records show penalties ranging from Rs 5,397 for minor breaches to over Rs 39 crore for large-scale violations. Officials said recovered funds are used for ecological restoration and monitoring.
