PANJIM: State’s much-delayed Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 has finally received the National coastal body’s nod, but the expert members from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had raised red flags claiming lacunae as proper procedures were not followed in finalizing the plan.
The Expert Members – Sujeet Kumar Dongre, Savio Correia, Faviano Miranda and Shrirang Tharnble, of GCZMA had placed certain observations on the final plan, prepared by the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
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They maintained that GCZMA and NCSCM did not follow proper procedures in finalizing the plan, which has now been approved by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA).
During the GCZMA board meeting held last month – just before the final plan could be sent for NCZMA approval, expert members raised questions over the non-demarcation of reserve forest along the coastal belt, non-depiction of turtle nesting sites and missing 46 lakh sq mts of sand dunes from the final plan.
Responding to the observations, the GCZMA said that all the prescribed process was followed while drafting and finalizing the plan. The Authority noted that the standard process for the preparation of CZMP includes demarcation of sea/ river/ creek/ canals, superimposing HTL/LTL on cadastral maps, applying CRZ regulations, 50-meter buffer zone for mangrove area, superimposing infrastructure eg roads/ railways etc, classification of CRZ as per its notification 2011, preparation of draft CZMP, stakeholder consultation/ public hearing, recommendation, technical scrutiny, etc.
With regards to no reserve forests shown along the coastal areas, especially on beaches, GCZMA replied that only the notified reserve forest has been considered, as the subject is a prerogative of the Forest Department.
The members were of the view that the turtle nesting sites be depicted as per the turtle management plan. GCZMA however said that the turtle management plan will be notified only after the draft CZMP 2011 is approved and notified by MoEF&CC.
On sand dunes, the Authority said that sand dunes beyond 500 meters are considered, while the CZMP is not mandated to demarcate any geographical entity beyond 500 meters.
