PANJIM: The Goa Foundation led concerned citizens meeting held on Friday decided not to allow finalisation of the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) until there is clarity on demarcation of high tide line (HTL) in Khazan land and imposition of hazardous line on the plan.
The concerned citizens met to discuss the present status of draft CZMP. The citizens have decided to approach the coastal village panchayats (VPs) to continue preparing their village level plans, irrespective of Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral announcing that the deadline to submit plan and recommendations ended.
Speaking to Herald post meeting, Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares said that until government itself is clear on HTL line in Khazan land, where is the point of finalising the CZMP.
He said that the minister himself approached Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) seeking various amendments to the CRZ notification 2011 to allow State to exclude HTL in Khazan land, so as to facilitate to draw a practical plan.
“When government itself is not clear and waiting for the amendments, how it can stop the process of seeking plans and recommendations from the village panchayats,” Alvares questioned.
He also pointed out that large numbers of village panchayats have not been able to submit their plan because they are confused.
Cabral had on Thursday said that only 36 out of 191 VPs have submitted their CZMP plan for incorporation. He also said that the last date for submission ended on October 14.
