Team Herald
PANJIM: The Central government has informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the CRZ 2019 notification cannot come into force in Goa until the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 is implemented.
The submission comes against the backdrop of massive opposition to the draft CZMP, which had been kept open for public consultations across various villages in the State.
The High Court is hearing a few Public Interest Litigations (PILs) seeking to quash and set aside the CRZ 2019 notification. When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, the Solicitor General of India pointed out to the court that the CZMP 2011 notification needs to be in place for enforcement of CRZ 2019. The bench, thereafter, adjourned the matter for a final hearing to December 11, 2019.
In March, the division bench had issued notice to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in connection with separate PILs filed by an NGO and an activist. Thereafter, the notice was again issued to the ministry based on a similar petition filed by NGO Goa Foundation and Colva Civic and Consumer Forum. All the petitions are being heard together considering the common issue.
The petitioners have sought a stay on the operations as well as to keep in abeyance any development in the khazan areas and turtle nesting sites of Morjim, Mandrem, Agonda and Galgibagh. In one petition, the petitioners also sought that the CZMP be carried out as per CRZ 2011 notification and finalise it at the earliest.
The government has been at the receiving end as the public consultation on draft CZMP held recently came under the scathing attack of the citizens and stakeholders who demanded to scrap the plan. The government has since sought another six months time from the National Green Tribunal to make necessary correction, finalise and submit the CZMP to the Union ministry.
