PANAJI
The Government of Goa has told the National Green Tribunal that it will not grant any permissions for erection of shacks, huts, cottages, etc that are on sand dunes in violation of the judgement of the NGT until the final report of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management on beach carrying capacity and sand dune mapping is complete.
The Chief Secretary had submitted an affidavit before the National Green Tribunal on September 14 detailing action it has taken based on NGT directions that no shacks be allowed on sand dunes.
The news of the undertaking comes barely a day after a delegation of shack owners called on the chief minister and demanded that the shack policy for the next few years be notified within the next fifteen days.
“Till the final outcome of such detailed survey by NCSCM is available, the GCZMA/State of Goa shall not grant any permission for erection of any shack, huts, cottages, in violation of the judgement,” the Chief Secretary said in his affidavit before the NGT.
It may be recalled that the GCZMA revoked all permissions for private shacks and huts after being censured by the National Green Tribunal for going ahead and giving permissions last year in contravention of the NGT orders.
The NGT had asked the GCZMA to conduct a survey to map the sand dunes as well as the carrying capacity of the beaches before it goes ahead with granting permissions for beach shacks in private properties.
“GCZMA, shall carry out study to assess the carrying capacity of different beaches in State of Goa, for providing such shacks and other temporary structures, in environmentally sustainable manner to protect the coastal environment, based on the ‘precautionary principle’ in next six months and based on findings of this study, the permissions for the year 2015-2016, only shall be granted,” the NGT had said back in 2014.
However, the GCZMA commissioned the NCSCM study only this year and while the interim report is submitted, the final report is awaited.
