INTERIM RELIEF IN PLEA AGAINST HOTEL PROJECT REFUSE BY HIGH COURT

PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa comprising of Mr Justice D G Karnik and Mr Justice F M Reis refused to grant any interim relief in the petition challenging the permissions granted to the Hotel Grand Hyatt project at Bambolim.

The petition was filed by Goa Foundation. In the petition the petitioners sought to challenge the permissions granted by the authorities to the project as the same was not approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

Moreover, the petitioners also challenged the occupancy certificates granted to the hotel. The petitioners had also prayed for interim relief to stay further construction during the pendency of the petition. The court was pleased not to stay the construction but observing that the petition needs consideration, the court admitted the petition.

Earlier, the Goa Foundation and Peoples Movement for Civic Action had filed a petition challenging constructions being carried out by Aldeia de Goa within 100 metres of the high tide line. Both the petitions are tagged together and are being heard simultaneously by the court.

In the petition against Aldeia de Goa the petitioners had argued that the permission was granted for the project in 1995, prior to a Supreme Court judgment declaring the amendment to the CRZ regulations illegal. By the amendment the no development zone had been relaxed from 100 to 50 metres. (NT)