PANJIM: Ahead of the crucial public hearing on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the State government has decided to carry out ground truthing before considering the suggestions and objections raised by the stakeholders to the draft plan.
In a tweet, the State Environment Department said that Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) will carry out ground truthing wherever required, and based on the findings will decide on the objections and suggestions received for the plan.
Environment Department has received over 4500 representations with various suggestions and objections to the draft plan.
“GCZMA will continue to examine the objections and suggestion,” the department said, referring to the stakeholders comments.
Over 700 individuals, including activists, fishermen, farmers, have registered to be heard during the public hearing on the draft CZMP scheduled on July 8.
Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (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 ground, 98 people are on board.
Earlier on Sunday, the department had said that no structures will be depicted on the final CZMP map. “All structures will be removed,” the department had said.
It also assured that objections and suggestions for the CZMP pertaining to Khazan lands, bunds and sluice gates will be referred to the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the ones related to fishing wards and fishing zones will be referred to Fisheries Department for inquiry.
