MAPUSA
Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar on Wednesday urged the State government to expedite the notification of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019, stating that its implementation is crucial to safeguarding the livelihoods of local coastal communities.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Arolkar highlighted that the CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) Notification, 2019 contains specific provisions aimed at protecting traditional occupations and ensuring sustainable development along the coast.
“These provisions will only come into effect once the CZMP 2019 is formally approved and notified. The government must act swiftly to ensure the livelihoods of local communities are not jeopardised,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House that the notification process was underway. “It’s in process. We are committed to getting it done, and it will happen soon,” Sawant said.
The delay in finalising the CZMP has been a long-standing issue in Goa, with several stakeholders, including fishermen and tourism-dependent communities, raising concerns over the uncertainty surrounding land-use regulations and developmental restrictions.
The final notification is expected to bring much-needed clarity and legal backing to the CRZ 2019 provisions in the State.
