Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) in a fresh decision has resolved not to grant any permissions and approvals for permanent constructions in the State until the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) is finalised.
GCZMA during its recent meeting deliberated on the fact that it had overlooked the directions of National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed on November 22, 2018 and granted permissions, which later attracted contempt.
“Hence, the Authority has decided to review the decision so as not to grant any permissions and approvals for permanent constructions until the CZMP for Goa is finalised,” the minutes of the meeting reads.
NGT through an order dated November 22, 2018 had directed all the States not to grant any environmental clearances pending finalisation of CZMP. State was asked to finalise CZMP by April 30, failing which another deadline of August 31 was given to Goa.
However, following public outcry pointing to gross errors in the CZMP, drafted by Chennai based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), State was forced to seek further time for finalising the plan.
In a final deadline, NGT granted time till November 15 for the State to submit the report failing which, it warned of coercive action against the officers responsible.
As reported earlier, the Government may miss this deadline, too, as no advertisement for holding crucial public hearing on the draft CZMP, one of the mandatory procedures before finalising the plan, which as per rule has to be held one month in advance, has been issued.
It appears that pending amendment to the CRZ notification 2011 with regards to demarcation of High Tide line, the Government finds it irrelevant to finalise the draft plan, as HTL has been the main cause of concern raised by the villagers, fishermen and NGOs.
