PANJIM: Aggrieved with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) barring beach shacks in the absence of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), beach shack operators have approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the order. The court will hear the petition for admission on Thursday.
The Principal bench of the NGT on September 13 had stayed the implementation of the State’s shack policy 2019-2022 as Goa has failed to submit the CZMP and directed the State to submit its coastal plan by November 15.
NGT also warned that action would be taken against the government officers, if the new deadline is not met, as the earlier deadline of August 31 has already lapsed.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral explained that while village-wise plans are being prepared, there are various discrepancies that need correction followed by public consultation. Speaking to Herald after the order, he had expressed his inability to complete the plan within the given time-frame, suggesting that the government might seek an extension to notify the plan.
