Authorities now need to fix anomalies in notified 2011 plan, seek timely corrections
PANAJI
While the time is running out yet again for Goa government to avert missing out on the final deadline of May, to finalise the Coastal Zone Management Plan 2019- a delay of almost five years since the CRZ notification 2019 was notified, the State authorities step towards fixing the anomalies in the already notified CZMP 2011, is likely to prolong the new coastal plan.
The State Environment department is now in process of preparing CZMP 2011 in 1:4000 scale and the same would be submitted to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for approval. State has already notified CZMP 2011 in 1:25000 scale.
It is learnt that the local maps at a 1:4000 scale, which were received in PDF format from the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in October, 2023, are riddled with discrepancies and the same needs to be corrected for timely finalisation of CZMP 2019.
“The maps submitted by NCZMA diverge from the officially notified survey plans of the State, grounded in the Goa Land Revenue Code of 1968. There are multiple errors including overlapping and voids at village boundaries, improper delineation of key features such as high tide line (HTL), low tide line (LTL), ecologically sensitive areas, coastal regulation zone (CRZ), and erroneous inclusion of khazans, mangroves, and waterbodies,” sources said.
The State, through several communications to NCSCM has requested use of the latest village-wise shape files shared by the State, and the corresponding update of HTL, LTL, and other features.
During its recent visit to Delhi, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira had raised the issue with MoEF&CC, following which the Ministry decided to intervene and directed NCSCM to carry out necessary corrections.
“We have already raised the issue with the Union Ministry and necessary directions are issued to the agency to undertake the corrections in time bound manner. These corrections are important before we go ahead with the demarcation process for CZMP 2019,” the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
Sawant said that the State has released an amount of Rs 40 lakh to Kerala based agency - National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), as a first instalment for preparation of CZMP 2019 and we are hopeful to complete the plan within the deadline.
However, sources said that pending fixing anomalies of CZMP 2011, the NCESS is in no position to undertake any process for CZMP 2019 as the maps are a crucial base for the plan. Also, sources said that with Lok Sabha code likely to come into force by March end, the entire process will get stalled and the State will have to seek more time.
It took almost seven years from 2016, for the State to complete, finalise and notify CZMP based on CRZ 2011 notification in November 2022.
It can be noted that Goa is the only State that is yet to kick-start full-fledged work on CZMP 2019 – the deadline for which lapsed on October 31, 2023 – following which Centre has refused to grant permissions for any project based on CRZ 2011 notification.
When contacted, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has said that CZMP 2011 is going to be the base for CZMP 2019 and hence corrections are necessary. “We are hopeful that following Ministry directions, NCSCM will expedite the process,” he said.
