Team Herald
PORVORIM: Stating that the concerns raised by State legislators over Environment Ministry’s draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018 as unwarranted, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday told the House that not a single coastal village from Goa comes within the ambit of the draft notification.
Parrikar said that unless the State finalised the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the draft CRZ notification 2018 cannot be implemented. “I think the apprehensions raised by everyone are unwarranted. If you read the draft CRZ notification, not a single coastal village from Goa comes within its ambit of the proposed population density it has identified as per Census 2011,” he said.
“Also, there is no question of implementing the draft notification, until we finalise the CZMP, which will not be done without public consultation. Chennai based agency is drafting CZMP for Goa, which once ready, would be placed in public domain for inputs,” the Chief Minister said.
He even said that no relaxation to any hotel and apprehensions that Goa’s coastal areas being destroyed by hotel project are unfounded. “Draft CRZ notification 2018 does not give any special permission or exempt for hotel projects viz-a-viz CRZ notification 2011,” Parrikar said.
Parrikar was replying to the question raised by Congress MLA Francisco Silveira, who brought to the notice of the House the much hue and cry over the draft CRZ notification 2018, which has proposed to reduce the CRZ from the high tide line to 50 metres from existing 200 metres.
The MLA said that the draft notification, if implemented in Goa will disturb the livelihood of the traditional fishermen settled in coastal areas. He urged government to consult public before submitting its inputs.
Silveira was rightly supported by his colleagues, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who questioned the government’s delay in finalising the CZMP for the State. Kavalekar pointed out the latest National Green Tribunal (NGT) order “has asked the States to submit the plan latest by August 31.”
Replying to the apprehensions, Chief Minister said that the delay in finalising the plan is on technical grounds and government cannot be held accountable. He reiterated that the CZMP will not be finalised until there is public consultation.
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CHURCHILL SUPPORTS NOTIFICATION
Much to opposition Congress’ surprise, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao came out in support of the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018, stating that it will help the local fishermen regularise their houses.
At a time when Congress MLAs were urging government on the Floor of the House not to give its green single to the draft notification as it will disturb the traditional fishing community, Alemao slammed the Opposition for trying to create unnecessary issue. The MLA also castigated the NGOs for misguiding the people for self interest. “I don’t understand why these people (MLAs) and NGOs are making issue out of this. It (notification) is a very good thing, which the State needs to implement. The notification will help the traditional fishermen to regularise their houses,” Alemao said.
He informed House how currently these traditional occupants are facing problems to undertake any repair work of their houses for being located in CRZ area. “If the CRZ area is reduced to 50 metres, it will benefit the fishermen to a large extent. We all need to support this. The one opposing it has not understood it at all,” Alemao said.
