NGT stays construction of shops under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 at Colva

Panaji: Granting interim relief to Colva villagers, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to halt construction of shops being built at Colva beach under Centre’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme.

The stay will remain in force until the next hearing scheduled for Aug 7.

Villagers had approached the tribunal alleging that the construction violates the CRZ notification, 2011.

“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,” the tribunal said.

During the hearing, NGT noted that despite sufficient notice, neither the GCZMA nor 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 Feb 2, 2025, allowing 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 Dec 2, 2024, showed 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 govt in consultation with those communities.

They 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.