PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to prepare the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) with focus on protecting the turtle nesting grounds. The Division Bench has also asked the State as well as Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to comply with the directions within three months.
“(Goa government and GCZMA) are directed to prepare CZMP for protecting turtle nesting ground in compliance with the notification dated January 18, 2019 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change issued under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in respect of the Mandrem and Morjim beaches within three months from the date of this judgment,” the bench observed while dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition seeking to quash permissions granted by various authorities to a private firm to construct a hotel along the Morjim beach.
The ministry’s notification was issued for, inter alia, promoting sustainable development on scientific principles and in supersession of 2011 CRZ Notification.
The 94-page order has also directed the two respondents to consider various restrictions already imposed in the notification published in the Official Gazette dated January 27, 2017 regarding “Tourism Policy for erection of Temporary Seasonal Structures, Beach Shacks/huts and others 2016-19” and conditions prescribed in the provisional Management Plan already prepared for Conservation and Protection of Turtle Nesting Sites at Galgibaga in Canacona while preparing CZMP. It has also sought that government considers deployment of additional Forest Guards or adequate and suitable number of staff for patrolling full stretches of Mandrem and Morjim beaches.
The directions come at a time when National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stayed the implementation of Shack Policy 2019-22 while giving deadline till November 15 to finalise and submit CZMP.
