SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) has directed all the States not to grant more Environmental Clearances (ECs) for development projects in prohibited cum restricted areas of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) until finalisation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and the hazardous line.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Goa government not to grant any new construction licences within 100 metres of the High Tide Line (HTL) and in violation of the CRZ regulations until July 2018, by when the CZMP and hazard line will be in place.
The tribunal has asked all the States, including Goa, to submit its CZMP to MoEF by April 30, 2018. In the event of failure to submit the plan, the States will be liable for exemplary costs of Rs 5 lakh each.
NGT has also granted three months time, till July 31, 2018, to MoEF to finalise the hazard line and CZMP for the respective States covering the entire coastal areas.
In Goa, the Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is the competent body to grant ECs for projects proposed in CRZ areas. GCZMA, through the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), has drafted the GCZMP for the coastal State, however, the same is yet to be finalised by the government.
“As the entire development activity out of prohibited area, regulated area and area permitted to development in accordance with the CZMP, the same would be dependent upon finalisation of CZMP and the hazardous line,” NGT said, quoting MoEF in its order dated November 22.
“It is suggested by the Ministry that the States should not grant environment clearance for development activity which falls within the permissible area/regulated area as that may result in defeating the entire exercise,” NGT noted further.
Goa, along with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar, had sought time till June, 2018 to submit the CZMP. However, the plea was declined by the tribunal.
MoEF has assured the tribunal that they will be able to approve the CZMP of the respective states and hazardous lines from three months after submission of the plan.
While passing its fresh order, NGT said that its interim order passed on February 5 will also remain in force till July 2018. “We make it clear that in any part of the State of Goa, no construction shall be permitted within 100 mtrs of HTL and in violation of the CRZ regulations,” the interim order had stated.
The hazard line is a composite line of the shoreline changes (including sea level rise) due to climate change, tides and waves. The Survey of India (Department of Science and Technology) is entrusted with the task to map, delineate and demarcate the hazard line along India’s coastal belt.
