PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) has finally reconstituted the new Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), which was defunct since July 21, this year. The news comes as a major relief to shack operators, who are awaiting clearance for the Beach Shack Policy which is been pending approval with the authority for a fortnight.
The Authority has been directed to identify ecologically sensitive areas in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and coastal areas highly vulnerable to erosion or degradation and to formulate area-specific management plans for such identified areas.
The 13-member GCZMA, to be headed by the Chief Secretary, has been constituted for a period of three years under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Director of Environment has been appointed as the member secretary.
The members (Ex-Officio) of the committee include the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Directors of Panchayat, Tourism, Fisheries, Survey and Land Records and Chief Engineer of Water Resources. There are five expert members on the committee – former executive engineer PWD Audhut Bhonsle, Principal Parvatibai Chowgule College Dr Nandkumar Sawant, former head of department of zoology of Dhempe College Prof Suhaas Godse and Shrirang Jambhale representing an NGO.
As per the MoEF order, the Authority shall examine proposals for changes in classification of CRZ areas and in the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
