The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed the Panaji
Deputy Collector to initiate necessary action and proceedings to recover
from Goa State BJP Vice President Anil Hoble the Rs 20 lakh fine imposed on
him by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for degradation of environment and
violation of CRZ rules. The GCZMA on 25th August had given Anil Hoble three
days to pay the 20 lakhs or face further action.
The NGT on May 29th this year while ordering the demolition of several
of Anil Hoble’s illegal structures including the Hoble’s River Lounge the
Bar & Restaurant along the Ribandar-Panaji causeway for violating various
provisions of the environmental law had directed him to pay a fine of 20
lakhs within six weeks for destroying mangroves and doing illegal land
filling in violation of environment laws
After the NGT order Anil Hoble had filed a petition before the Bombay High
Court seeking a stay of the NGT order which was dismissed after which he
filed two petitions before the Supreme Court which also came to be
dismissed as withdrawn.
Anil Hoble being politically well connected and the Vice President of the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party by flexing his muscles had
destroyed mangroves and salt pans while also doing illegal land filling in
violation of environment laws.
The illegal structures built by Anil Hoble for commercial activity along
the very busy Ribandar – Panaji causeway is at very accident prone area
with hundreds of fatal accidents on that road over the years with
even Anil Hoble's own brother killed there in a road accident. That Hoble’s
River Lounge Bar & Restaurant was inaugurated by then Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar on April 1 last year though he was fully aware that the
structures including the Bar & Restaurant were illegal.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of
pressurizing officers in an attempt to shield Anil Hoble from having to pay
that 20 lakh fine.
Three months have passed since that NGT order which had directed Anil Hoble
to pay the fine within in six weeks, but unlike in other cases the law has
not taken its course in promptly recovering that fine from Anil Hoble. The
BJP which claims to be a party with a difference has allowed Anil Hoble to
continue as it’s Vice –President despite him having been found guilty of
violating environmental laws and now evading to pay the government that 20
lakh fine.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com
Or
airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
You can also reach me on
Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues
Twitter@rodrigues_aires
