The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted interim relief to residents of Colva village by directing the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to stop the construction of shops at Colva beach under the Centre's Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme. The stay will remain in effect until the next hearing, scheduled for August 7.
The villagers had approached the tribunal alleging that the construction violates the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011. The NGT stated, "We grant interim relief to the applicant, directing that respondent no. 1 (GTDC) shall not raise any construction in pursuance of the NOC granted by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) till the next date."
During the hearing, the NGT noted that despite sufficient notice, neither the GCZMA nor the GTDC had filed a reply in the matter. The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum had sought a stay on the permission granted by the GCZMA on February 2, 2025, which allowed the GTDC to construct shops at Colva beach under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.
The forum alleged that site inspections conducted on June 26, 2024, and December 2, 2024, revealed that the structures were coming up within the CRZ, covering sand dunes, the intertidal zone, and the no-development zone (NDZ). The applicants argued that under the CRZ notification, no construction is permitted within the NDZ except for repairs or reconstruction of authorised structures, or housing for traditional coastal communities, including fisherfolk, under a comprehensive plan prepared by the state government in consultation with those communities.
Alleged Violations and Project Details
The applicants contended that the project was approved in violation of these provisions. Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 project, development plans for Colva beach include an arrival avenue, a pedestrian bridge, redevelopment of the shopping and food plaza, a tourist security block with CCTV surveillance, infrastructure upgrades, improved signage, street furniture, and other amenities.
The proposed shops were intended to replace the existing dilapidated stores operating near the beach. However, the tribunal's interim order has put a halt to the construction activities until further notice.
