Pre-draft notification on CRZ rubbished
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 11
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott and Other Costal People’s Organisations (GREOCPO) have derided the pre-draft notification on Coastal Regulation Zone 2010 presented this April and have called for deletion of “Hazard Line” in it maintaining the same overruled CRZs I, II and III.
Addressing a press conference GREOCPO Convenor Matanhy Saldanha said the pre-draft notification has come out of people’s demands and it was a good precedent, but there were many loopholes. However, thee is still time for objections and suggestions, but we feel it is necessary to point out the anomalies, he stated.
Saldanha said in the first place the concept of “Hazard Line” that has been introduced in the pre-draft is suspicious because fine reading of the notification with regards to CRZ III clearly reveals that it has been introduced to dilute the No Development Zone.
He observed the notification clearly states that buildings will be permitted on the landward side of the Hazard Line which will be used to permit development within the NDZ on grounds that the area falls on the landward side of the said line.
Saldanha maintained the pre-draft notification has some subtle changes which are clearly aimed at opening the rural coastal areas for hotels, resorts and even mega housing projects. For example while the 1991 notification had reference to projects in terms of their value the 2010 notification specifies the area and the specified area is 20,000 square metres, he observed.
He said the notification had come out with interesting usage of words by stating “development of beach resorts/hotels for temporary occupation of tourists/ visitors.” This means that these resorts will be for temporary occupation which is ridiculous. The notification has overlooked the fact that the staff and management of these resorts will live on permanent basis and as such the structures cannot be deemed temporary, he stated.
“Besides,” he mentioned, “the pre-draft notification also has provisions indicating that forest land along the country’s coastline that’s currently protected under the Forest Protection Act will be thrown open for development. Any such provision has to be deleted totally as this will means changes to the environment in areas like Pernem and Canacona where certain powerful and influential people are reported to have purchased huge tracts of forest land, he asserted.
Saldanha said in what seemed to be a parody the said notification provides for demolition of buildings of archaeological and historical importance, heritage buildings and buildings under public use. This is ridiculous as these are assets of the country and should not be demolished. GREOCPO demands that instead of demolition these structures be relocated, he stated.
Ironically, he held further, even though the Government of India has withdrawn its SEZ policy the pre-draft notification provides for setting up SEZ in CRZ areas. Again we demand that no SEZ should be allowed within CRZ, he maintained.
Saldanha said many of the people who have received demolition notices are fearful that their house would go. Neither the Government nor the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority have issued any written clarifications on the demolition orders, he stated.
The GREOCPO Convenor informed he was headed to Chennai in the capacity of President of National Fish workers Forum to take up the issue of the pre-draft notification where a consensus discussion is scheduled.
