Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar's son issued notice for damaging eco-sensitive zone forest

According to reports, Abhijat attempted to build an 'illegal' eco-tourism resort along a wildlife sanctuary’s boundary.

The action has been taken after Abhijit Dessai, a member of Netravali village Panchayat, has filed a petition in the court.

In the plea, he accused the authorities of breaking the law to facilitate “arbitrary and illegal” permissions to Hideaway Hospitality for the resort, which is located within a kilometre of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary’s buffer zone in South Goa.

Abhijat is responsible for promoting the Hideaway Hospitality project.

The Bombay High Court has directed the Goa chief secretary, the state forest secretary and the chief wildlife warden to respond by the next date of hearing, which is on March 11.

The petition has made allegations that the Eco Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee, which regulates activities within ESZs, granted the permission, without taking cognizance of the ESZ Notification.

The notification states that till a Zonal Master Plan is approved, development for tourism and expansion of existing tourism activities shall not be permitted.

“There are no approved master plans for Goa’s ESZs and no site inspection was conducted,” the petitioner reportedly says.

Abhijat has so far not responded to the notice. No representative of his was present in the court when the notices were issued.