CZMP 2019 delayed again due to monsoon session of Assembly and code of conduct

PANJIM: The fortnight-long monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly followed by a month-long election code of conduct has delayed the process to prepare the coastal zone management plan (CZMP) 2019. Goa is the only state which has not commenced work on the plan and has once again missed National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) two-month deadline, set in April, to complete the CZMP based on the 2019 CRZ notification. 

The State Environment Department had in June shortlisted Kerala-based National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) to give a presentation for the preparation of CZMP 2019. 

However, the date for presentation could not be finalized in view of the two-week long Monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly held from July 11 followed by the code of conduct that came into force on July 16, in view of Panchayat polls. 

“The presentation process was delayed. A fresh date for presentation would be given by next month,” sources said. 

The Environment Department had on April 27 sought quotation from the agencies notified by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for the preparation of CZMP 2019. A total of seven notified agencies were approached. 

Only, NCESS and National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai quoted for the project. NCSCM has drafted CZMP 2011 plan for Goa, which is yet to be finalized. While NCSCM quoted Rs 3.89 crore, NCESS quoted Rs 85.54 lakhs for the preparation of the plan. 

NGT in an order passed on April 11 had granted two months’ time to finalize CZMP 2019 to all the coastal States. The green bench had noted that in spite of the CRZ Notification being issued in January 2019, the CZMPs 2019 have not been finalised and approved for 11 States including Goa. It had also observed that except for Goa, all other coastal States have commenced work on the CZMP 2019. 

As per the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA), until and unless the CZMP is revised or updated, the provisions of the CRZ notification 2019 will not be applicable in the coastal States and provisions of CRZ 2011 will continue to be followed for appraisal and CRZ clearances for any requisite projects.

The CRZ Notification, 2019 regulates foreshore developmental activities and ports and harbours are prohibited in high erosion stretches.