Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major relief to the traditional coastal communities including the fisherfolk, the Government’s draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has proposed to permit them to undertake construction and reconstruction of dwelling units between 100 and 200 metres from the high-tide line (HTL) along the seafront.
The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) prepared draft CZMP for Goa has identified a total of 186 fishing wards, which are falling within or adjacent to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The draft CZMP has now been kept open for public suggestions and inputs. GCZMA will hold public hearings with regards to the draft plan on July 7 at Taleigao Community Hall for North Goa and at Ravindra Bhavan for South.
The draft report, which speaks about the CRZ notification 2011 and its Goa related restrictions, has said that there are 186 fishing wards falling within or adjacent to the CRZ area where the fishing activities are carried out in the State of Goa.
“A 100m buffer line was drawn from the HTL to landward side in case of fishing wards near the sea coast to facilitate special consideration available for coastal communities. Construction/reconstruction of dwelling units of traditional coastal communities including fisherfolk may be permitted between 100 and 200 metres from the HTL along the seafront,” the report stated.
The report states that of the total 12 talukas, 10 talukas have CRZ.
Quoting CRZ notification 2011, the draft report has mentioned that the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) had directed the Government of Goa to notify fishing villages wherein all foreshore facilities required for fishing and fishery-allied activities such as traditional fish processing yards, boat building or repair yards, net mending yards, ice plants, ice storage, auction hall, jetties may be permitted by the panchayat in the CRZ area along with reconstruction of dwelling units.
Sources in GCZMA said that once the public hearing is conducted, the inputs would be incorporated while preparing the final plan, which would be placed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) before August 31, which is the deadline set by the green bench.
