Team Herald
PANJIM: With hardly 24-hours left for the commencement of the public hearings on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the State government is going the extra mile to clear some of the major apprehensions raised by stakeholders in relation to the draft plan prepared by Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
In its series of tweets in English as well as in Marathi, the Department of Environment has also made efforts to enlighten citizens on what exactly the CZMP is and what it highlights.
As per the tweets, the CZMP, which needs to be finalised by August 31, aims at safeguarding the fragile ecosystems that lie between marine and territorial zones. The plan depicts high and low tide lines, ecologically sensitive areas (CRZ1), no development zones (NDZ), developed areas (CRZ2), underdeveloped rural areas (CRZ3), water areas (CRZ4), fishing wards, zones and breeding areas and so also khazan lands and hazards lines.
Since the draft plan was first kept open for public suggestions and comments in January, stakeholders, especially the fishing community, raised serious concerns with regard to demarcation of port limits, depiction of fishing zones and village boundaries, khazan land, etc.
As a response to these concerns, the department has said on social media that Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has decided to remove the port limits from the final CZMP map. It has also stated that no structures will be depicted on the final CZMP map and that as such all structures which are shown on the map will be removed
GCZMA has also decided to carry out ground truthing before considering the suggestions and objections raised by the stakeholders to the draft plan.
“Issues raised with respect to depiction of khazan lands, sluice gates and bunds will be forwarded to the Water Resources Department for comments and ground truthing, wherever required,” the department has said.
Also, with regards to fishing zones, fish breeding areas and fishing village boundaries, the State Fisheries Department will be asked to undertake ground survey and submit comments.
The department has also clarified that mangroves that come in the khazan lands will not have any buffer areas.
Over 700 individuals including activists, fishermen, farmers, have registered to be heard during the public hearing on the draft CZMP scheduled on July 8.
GCZMA has permitted spot registration of participants and speakers, with no restrictions on the number, on the hearing day. Around 618 people have registered to participate as speakers in South Goa, which is scheduled at SGPDA ground while in North at Campal Parade grounds, 98 people are on board.
The Environment Department has received over 4500 representations with various suggestions and objections to the draft plan.
