PANJIM, APRIL 23
There’s good news for Goa’s traditional fishing community and also for the Greens who have been trying to protect sand dunes, khazan lands and turtle nesting sites in Goa.
In what can be considered as a major development, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has given special consideration to Goa along with Sunderbans, Kerala, Greater and Navi Mumbai and other ecologically sensitive areas, in the pre-draft amendments to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 1990.This will be called as draft CRZ Amendment Notification of 2010.
Jairam Ramesh-headed MoEF, in the pre-draft amendment, has suggested extraordinary protection to the structures of traditional fishermen.
“Reconstruction, repair works of structures of local communities shall be permissible in coastal regulation zone,” the pre-draft, which has given special consideration to Goa, reads.
Goa’s Environment Minister Aleixo Sequiera releasing the notings in the pre-draft to the press today said that the document is likely to be a major relief to the fishing community, whose structures were under cloud due to high court order.
However, he declined to say how many houses will be saved from being demolished. “At this stage I can’t say anything as this is just a pre draft”, Sequeira clarified.
The draft, which was released on the website www.moef.nic.in last night, reads that Government of Goa shall survey and map the fishing villages all along the Goa coast. Facilities required for the fishing and fishery allied activities such as traditional fish processing yards, boat building, repair yards, net mending yard, ice plants, ice storage, auction hall, jetties would be provided in it.
The Union ministry has also said that the eco sensitive low lying areas which are influenced by tidal action known as khazan lands shall be mapped.
“The mangroves along such khazan land shall be protected and a management plan for the Khazan land be prepared”, it has said.
Significantly, the ministry has banned any development in the khazan land. Incidentally, this comes in the wake of usage of khazan land, in connivance with the powers that be, for construction purpose.
SAND DUNES: The minister informed that the sand dunes, beach stretches along the bays and creeks will be surveyed and mapped. “No commercial activities shall be permitted on such sand dune areas”, the draft reads.
NESTING SITES: The draft also mentions that Morjim, Galgibag and Agonda beaches have been designated as turtle nesting sites and protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
“These areas shall be surveyed and a proper management plan will be prepared for protection of these turtle nesting sites. No development activities shall be permitted in such turtle breeding areas”, it added.
SUGGESTIONS: The minister said that the draft is loaded on the website and people can give their suggestions and objections to the state environment ministry by May 15.
Sequeira said that the Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh had visited the State last year and State Government had successfully conveyed to him the picture in the coastal belt.
WITH THANKS! “We are very thankful to the Union minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who fulfilled their promises made to Goans”, Sequeira said.
