Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has welcomed the National Green Tribunal decision to grant extension of date for submission of the Coastal Zone Management Plan for Goa (CZMP).
The minister also welcomed the NGT ruling that the Central government will have to help Goa in finalising the plan with NCSCM.
“NGT order is welcomed as it shows the sincerity of Goa and the Central government. The NGT has also asked MoEF to hand hold Goa with NCSCM to freeze the plan in this time and they are also made responsible. So it is a good decision the NGT has taken,” Cabral said.
He said the government has been working and slogging to complete the plan but the delay has been due to NCSCM. “We have already completed our exercise. Whatever their work is there they need to complete. Our only issue left is the High Tide Line and the work is on in this regard. In next 10-15 days we will finish and give details to NCSCM and it will cover everything,” he said.
Further, he said, around 18,000 hectares identified by WRD as khazan land have been mapped in survey numbers and will further be updated with survey plans.
The HC has already said that mangroves which have gone in khazan land have to be removed.
