PANJIM: After missing out the ‘last resort’ deadline set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Goa government is expected to take another four to five months to complete the long-pending Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the State, as the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) is yet to submit its draft plan and hold the public hearing on this.
NGT had, on November 27, 2019, ‘in a last resort’ extension had granted Goa till January 31, 2020 to submit the draft CZMP to Chennai-based agency NCSCM.
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NCSCM was thereafter directed to complete the exercise within three months and submit the final draft after a public hearing to Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) by April 30, 2020, while the Ministry was directed to issue the final notification on the plan by May 31.
“We have already missed the deadline due to delay in amendment to the CRZ notification 2011 pertaining to the high tide line. This was accompanied by the COVID pandemic,” a senior official said.
The Water Resources Department and the Biodiversity Management Committee have completed the process to demarcate the high tide line (HTL) along the bunds (embankments) along rivers and creeks.
This was initiated following necessary amendment to the Coastal Regulation Notification (CRZ) 2011 by Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Prior to this, the HTL was demarcated depending on how far landward saline water travelled during the high tide.
“The data will now be submitted to NCSCM that will incorporate the same in the draft CZMP after verification,” official said.
Pointing to the process to be followed for finalisation of the plan, the official said that once the draft plan is ready, NCSCM will submit it to the State government for approval that will in turn place it before the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for its nod and conduct of a public hearing.
“A 30 days advance notice for public hearing has to be issued. The CZMP maps will be provided to all concerned local bodies,” the official said, adding that following the public hearing, suggestions and objections of the people will be considered by GCZMA and the plan recommended to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) for approval.
“NCZMA will then review and recommend to the MOEF&CC that will approve and notify the plan for the State,” he added. “The entire process will take not less than four to five months, considering the present pandemic,” official mentioned.
