the goan I network
MAPUSA
Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Saturday said Goa would not be affected much by the Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) notification 2018 approved by the Centre, but it could certainly give boost to tourism in the country.
“The CRZ notification 2018 can boost tourism in the country but at the same time we have to also take care of the environment. Goa will not be affected much due to the new notification,” Lobo said.
Centre’s new CRZ notification has been slammed by the greens and civil society groups across the State calling it draconian which will sound the death knell of the fragile coastline in Goa and the country at large. “If you do planned development, you can still keep the coast without constructions. Between 0 to 200 metres don’t allow constructions. The new line could be drawn by the Goa government if we want to keep the beach as it is,” he said.
“The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department should come out with laws that will allow only ground plus two or ground plus three. And it should be with a uniform design like Goan/Portuguese architecture,” he added.
He, however, said that government could regularise/approve those constructions which were already there before. The Calangute MLA further opined that the new notification was applicable only to Calangute and Colva and not to any other parts of the State.
“If you go by the population density, then the new notification is applicable only to Calangute and Colva, because these two villages fit the density criteria and not the entire State,” Lobo said.
He also said that Calangute does not have any CRZ III area because there were constructions all over and there was no vacant land in the village.
“Certain areas in Calangute are already developed but before any development starts in the remaining areas an amendment has to be brought to the TCP Act allowing structures with uniform architecture. Like the front façade should be like Goan/Portuguese and not allowing more than ground plus two structures within 500 metres,” he opined.
