the goan I network
PANAJI
The Government of Goa has filed an application before the National Green Tribunal seeking a six months extension for correction of the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), saying that the delay in submitting the plan is “neither deliberate nor wilful.”
In its application before the National Green Tribunal in Delhi, the Goa Government has claimed that there were apprehensions regarding the accuracy of the draft CZMP, 2011 raised by the Leader of Opposition as well as other members of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
“All the MLAs who were present for the presentation expressed that there are errors in the preparation of the draft CZMP, 2011 especially regarding demarcation of the HTL beyond the sluice gates in khazan lands and thus requested that the maps should be referred back to the NCSCM for further study and correction.
The government also noted that there was opposition from the public for the presentations and requests by all local bodies that they be allowed to prepare their own CZMP.
“The Department of Environment has received letters from around 100 village panchayats and 169 representations from NGOs, civil society groups, private individuals regarding scrapping the draft CZMP, 2011 prepared by NCSCM, Chennai,” the application reads.
The Government told the NGT that they have met officials of the NCSCM and apprised them of the situation was well as have requested from the NCSCM to provide soft copies of village level maps of the draft CZMP, 2011 and also the digital aerial photography survey of India and as such they are in the process of collecting these essential details in order to have an effective public consultation for preparation of the draft CZMP, 2011 for Goa.
“The present application is being filed seeking extension of a further six months time for correction of the draft CZMP, 2011 prepared by NCSCM, Chennai and carry out public consultation in the State of Goa,” the application reads.
