PANAJI
Environment minister Nilesh Cabral on Sunday said that Goa Coastal Zone Management draft plans are likely to be put in public domain by mid-January.
"All draft plans have been prepared and they will be open for public suggestions and objections for one month", Cabral said.
The draft plans have been prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management Plan, Chennai together with four State committees.
The four committees -- Khazan Management Committee, Mangroves Management Committee, Turtle Nesting Committee and the Fishing Committee -- had been formed by the State government to give suggestions for preparing such plans.
These four committees have already submitted their suggestions to the Environment Department.
"The report of all four committees will be forwarded to the NCSCMP and suggestions from the report will be incorporated in final plan", Cabral said.
The Coast Zone Management plan will affect around 168 villages in the State.
Cabral said that notification of the final plan will help authorities to grant or deny permissions to projects in such areas.
"If the plan is approved some constructions where approvals were pending due to legal hurdles will now get clearance", said Cabral.
