PANAJI
Goa delegation led by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday urged the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to drop 40 villages from being categorised as Ecologically (Eco) Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and has sought permission to correct the discrepancies in the coastal zone management plan (CZMP) 2011, which is currently in force.
Sawant along with State Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira met Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.
“The agenda encompassed discussions pertaining to several crucial matters including regulation of Sand Mining activities, the draft notification concerning the Western Ghats, and rectifications to CZMP 2011,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a press statement issued post meeting.
“I thank Minister Bhupendra Yadav ji for his wholehearted support in jointly addressing issues pertaining to development and progress of Goa,” CMO added.
When contacted, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said that officials from the Union Ministry will hold follow up meetings with the State authorities on the issues raised. “There are certain issues pertaining to CZMP 2011. We need to address that and for that we have sought permission from the Ministry,” he said.
The Minister said that the plan is already notified by the Ministry and is currently in force and to undertake any corrections, we need their permission. The government had earlier pointed out discrepancies in the demarcation of high tide lines and dimensions of the plots.
Sources informed that the Ministry has directed the State government to raise the concerns with the Chennai based agency -- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) “ that had drafted the plan.
With regards to the draft notification on Western Ghats, sources said that the government has proposed to drop 40 from the total 99 villages, which are identified in the draft notification of ESAs. State has proposed 59 villages for inclusion.
“The Ministry has assured to resolve the issue by holding a joint meeting of the Central and State government officials,” sources said.
