Maharashtra: 2 Dapoli resorts to be razed, fined

MUMBAI: A joint committee constituted by the Union environment ministry has recommended the demolition of two resorts at Dapoli in Ratnagiri linked to Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab for violating regulations. Parab has denied ownership.
The committee has also recommended imposition of Rs 38 lakh and Rs 25 lakh as environmental compensation for violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification under the polluter pays principle.
Earlier, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) had also recommended demolition of the structures.
The committee comprising representatives from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), NCSCM, integrated regional office (IRO) of the ministry, Nagpur, and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) was set up in June this year by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC).
The complaint against the resorts was filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya in 2021. Since then, the ministry has issued show cause notices, had the matter investigated by the NCSCM and ordered its demolition.
The committee in its recommendations said: "The damage caused at the site is the construction of resorts in the no development zone and the remedial measure is therefore the removal of the unauthorised structures in its entirety and restoring the area to its original condition."
Costs are to be recovered for the demolition, transportation of debris and restoring the area separately. The committee referred its recommendations to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to decide on whether the amount charged as environmental compensation is correct.
The CPCB said the compensation must act as a deterrent as per numerous judgments of the National Green Tribunal. It has recommended that the amount be calculated "at the highest value and also take into consideration the location. The environmental compensation is calculated for violations of CRZ notification and construction in no development zone. No construction is permitted in NDZ", said CPCB.
The MoEFCC told the MCZMA and MPCB in a letter on Monday to act on the recommendations of the joint committee and directed that the amount be recovered as per the recommendations of the CPCB.