Team Herald
PANJIM: Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT), an initiative of the Church, has demanded the withdrawal of the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018 alleging that its thrust is a “perfect assault on environment and livelihood”.
Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) in its draft CRZ rules has permitted temporary tourism activities like shacks in the no-development zone (NDZ). The Ministry has reduced No Development Buffer zone measured from the high tide line (HTL) on the landward side to 50 metres from the existing 200 from the HTL.
CRT general secretary Fr Freddy Braganza in the suggestions submitted to MoEF raised objections, and alleged that instead of protecting the coastal ecology and livelihoods of coastal inhabitants, it seeks to destroy the fragile nature of the coast and deprive local communities of their traditional livelihood.
“The way the draft is framed seems more like guidelines to facilitate projects, rather than to protect environment. In view of the above, the draft CRZ notification 2018 should be categorically withdrawn,” CRT said.
It added that the draft notification, in terms of its character and contents, in the nature and course of preparation and the way it is being thrust across is a “perfect assault on environment and livelihood”.
“Goa being a very small state, the fragile coastal ecology is already facing environmental crisis. Reducing the CRZ areas to mere 50 m from the hazard lines will have a further negative impact,” CRT stated.
“A large number of traditional communities in Goa live along the coast. However, Goa is not mentioned in the draft CRZ notification despite being critically vulnerable and ecologically sensitive coastal areas,” CRT added.
CRT said that the draft is a further dilution of CRZ, in line with the flagship program of the central government under the Sagar Mala project, where over 400 projects related to port administration, connectivity, enhancement, development, and other port linked industries are envisaged from 2015-2035 at an estimated cost of Rs eight trillion.
CRT has demanded that the ministry prepare and enact the draft through democratic consultation with all stakeholders, especially fish workers. It said that a comprehensive legislation should be framed that would ensure conservation of coastal environment, ecology, and natural resources and protect traditional livelihood options.
“Stringent measures should be in place for CRZ violations and all punitive action should be dispensed within a month’s time,” CRT said.
The ministry had released the draft CRZ notification on April 18, 2018 seeking comments and suggestions from the general public within 60 days of the issuance.
