PANAJI
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has dispatched the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) to the national body for approval and final notification but has insisted that they be modified to omit 'Port Limits' and buffer zones for mangroves in Khazan lands.
Another recommendation of the GCZMA is to permit 'other developmental activities' in fishing wards and to delete the demarcation of structures on the plans.
The CZMPs were sent after they were deliberated by the GCZMA at its meeting held on December 27 last, at which some of the expert members including Savio Corriea, Flaviano Miranda, Sujeeth Dongre and Srirang Jamble raised questions over the processes used in finalising the plans but these were addressed by the technical scrutiny committee of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
NCSCM's Technical Scrutiny Committee claimed that the objections to the demarcation of sand dunes had been verified using aerial photos and other data available.
The maps submitted by Panchayats and shapefiles submitted by the United Goa Foundation and Goa Foundation were also taken into account while finalising the sand dunes across the State's coastline, the technical committee claimed.
According to GCZMA member secretary, Dashrath Redkar, the plans were dispatched well before the December 31 deadline set by the National Green Tribunal.
