Panaji: Following a complaint from the tourism department, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed the deputy collector to restore a coastal property at Varca and recover the costs from the violator. Although GCZMA identified two violators for sand extraction from the beach at Varca, it has been unable to reach them because of “incomplete addresses”.In June last year, the tourism department complained to the GCZMA that a violator had been illegally operating an earthmover on Varca beach and extracting sand, altering its natural features like dunes.The GCZMA then inspected the plot at Pedda, Dumottem. The site inspection report confirmed the “gross violations of CRZ Notification 2011”.“The site was identified by the complainant. It was observed that sand is being illegally extracted from the dune and mixed with red murram (laterite soil) at the site. A permanent platform and a few temporary structures were observed at the location. Red murram was dumped extensively at the site, altering the natural landscape. On the beach intertidal zone, metal-fabricated barricades and huge black bags filled with sand were dumped and stacked, obstructing free beach access and impacting the natural movement of water, sand and marine life,” the inspection report states.The GCZMA began its hearing in Sept 2025, but the respondents were absent for the hearings.“The respondents, Nazareth Rebello and Pascoal Rebello, were both served to show cause for the alleged violation. The notice could not be served because of an incorrect address. Subsequently, the authority issued a personal hearing notice to the respondents through the talathi of the village panchayat Varca, which was returned unclaimed. After deliberation, the authority decided to direct the deputy collector to restore the land to its original condition in the property bearing survey no. 177/2 of village Varca, and recover the cost incurred during the restoration of the land from the alleged violator,” the GCZMA said.
