the goan I network
PANAJI
Fishermen associations are up in arms against the newly drafted CRZ notification 2018 with the Goencho Raponkarano Ekvott taking special offence to the provision in the notification which states that there will not be any “No Development Zone” within notified port limits.
While the new CRZ notification brings down the No Development Zone in highly populated areas from 200 metres from the high tide line to 50 metres and keeps it at 200 metres in low population density areas, it does away with the no development zone within notified port limits.
“The NDZ shall not be applicable in such areas falling within notified Port limits,” the notification reads.
Reacting to this Olencio Simoes of the Goencho Raponkarancho Ekvott said that 53 kilometres from Goa’s 105-kilometre long coastline was essentially free to develop in the name of notified port limits.
“The limits of the Mormugao Port extend from Dona Paula in the north to Betul in the south the entire coastline is open for development and expansion. With (Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping) Nitin Gadkari saying that he is going to focus on the development of the coasts, this could mean anything and make everything for coal expansion,” Simoes said.
He said they would also protest the draft provision to reduce the no development zone to 50 metres
through the National Fishworkers Forum.
“The CRZ was drafted to protect the interests of the traditional dwellers and the fragile ecology. If they are going to do this, they might as well do away with CRZ altogether,” Simoes said.
As reported earlier the new notification divides CRZ III (which covers coasts in non-municipal areas) into
