PANAJI
While on one side, the work on the much-delayed Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019 is moving at a snail's pace, the State government has yet another uphill task of formulating an environment management plan for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) like mangroves, sand dunes, and turtle nesting, among others.
The Kerala-based National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), which is working on Goa’s CZMP based on CRZ notification 2019, is also directed to prepare environment management plan for ESA, eco-tourism activities in CRZ I, tourism activities in CRZ II and Inland Management Plan for the State.
As per the guidelines, detailed environment management plan for ecologically sensitive areas has to be formulated within six months of the approval of CZMP prepared based on CRZ Notifications 2019 by the states and Union territories.
The Environment Director Dr Sneha Gitte said that a detailed environment management plan for ESA, as mapped by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) - that needs to be integrated with CZMP - has to be prepared for each geo-morphological features which play a role in maintain the integrity of the coast.
This includes mangroves, corals and coral reefs, sand dunes, salt marshes, turtle nesting, sea grass beds, areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites.
Gitte said that an eco-tourism plan needs to be incorporated in CZMP for allowing eco-tourism-related activities like mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc in the CRZ I area.
Similarly, a tourism plan will be drafted to allow temporary facilities in the no-development zones and beaches under CRZ III areas. The temporary facilities will include shacks, toilets, washrooms, changing rooms, constructed using interlocking paver blocks, etc; however these activities will be allowed subject to maintaining a minimum distance of 10 metres from high tide line.
