WRIT FILED AGAINST CHICALIM SHIPYARD FOR VIOLATING CRZ VIOLATIONS

Chicalim Villagers Action Committee (CVAC) has filed a writ petition in the high court of Bombay at Goa questioning the clearance granted for constructing a shipyard training institute at Chicalim village allegedly in violation of CRZ notifications.
The petition came up for hearing on Monday before a division bench of Justice V K Tahilramani and Justice N A Britto. CVAC has filed the petition along with Goa Foundation pointing out that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had granted clearance for the project in survey No. 153/1 of Chicalim village while ignoring the villagers' objections.
In November 2005 the gram sabha of Chicalim panchayat rejected the setting up of a shipyard. In 2006, the Chicalim village panchayat (VP) also passed a resolution opposing the project, points out the petition. During the hearing, petitioners' advocate Norma Alvares argued that the plot had been converted from mangroves (CRZ I) to industrial in the statutory plans to suit the proposed development. The new industrial zone is not permitted in the CRZ. She prayed that the court quash and set aside the clearance granted by GCZMA and also restrain the respondents from carrying out any development on the plot. Advocate E O Mendes, appearing on behalf of Pinky Shipyard, argued that at present the land is not ready for construction and no plans have been submitted.
The court was of the view that the Mormugao Port Trust, Captain of Ports and Chicalim VP were necessary parties to the petition and has directed the petitioners to add them while issuing notices to them. The court will hear the petitions further after six weeks.