SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Citing the ‘lockdown’ and ‘curfew’ restrictions, imposed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Goa government has pleaded before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking an extension of 11 months, till March 10, 2021, to finalise the much-delayed Coastal Zone Management Plant (CZMP) for the State.
The State has also informed the Principal Bench of the NGT, New Delhi that pending finalisation of CZMP, no approvals are being granted for any development in the coastal areas and that it is ensuring that no violations occur in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas.
The State has also placed on record that the Minister for Environment Nilesh Cabral has written to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) seeking permission for conduct of an online public hearing on the draft CZMP in view of current COVID-19 situation.
“It is most respectfully submitted that there has been a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the State, which has also resulted in hampering of the work, which National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) has called upon the State that is identifying the khazan lands and its mapping and the plotting of the outer bunds to limit the HTL,” the Goa affidavit states.
“That it is most humbly submitted that the delay in finalizing the CZMP is neither deliberate nor willful but, in the facts and circumstances,” the State said praying that “further extension of eleven months, that is till March 10, 2021, be granted for finalization of CZMP”.
NGT had, on November 27, 2019, ‘in a last resort’ extension granted Goa till January 31, 2020 to submit the draft CZMP to Chennai-based agency NCSCM.
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.
The State told NGT that it was conscious of the fact that the directives of the NGT have to be adhered to in letter and spirit and hence a letter was addressed to NCSCM on April 1, 2020 to bring their notice that the draft CZMP be sent at the earliest.
“However, NCSCM vide communication dated April 2, 2020 replied that they are unable to carry out any work due to the lockdown and curfew restrictions in Chennai,” it added.
The State also said that due to heavy monsoons, the ground level exercise got delayed with regards to mapping of Khazan land and bunds.
“State has also been ensuring that once the draft plan is prepared, what procedure will be adopted for conducting the public hearing/consultation of the draft plan and in that regard the Minister has addressed a letter to Union Ministry on May 7, 2020 and again on September 3, 2020 to prescribe procedure preferably through on-line mode,” it added.
