Goa’s draft CZMP

Why in news?

Recently, the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan of Goa has met with criticism from the wider sections of the society.

What is Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP)?

• In 2011, Union Ministry for Environment aimed to secure the livelihood of fishing and other local communities living in the coastal areas.
• It also wanted to conserve and protect coastal stretches, their unique environment and marine area and promote development in a sustainable manner.
• Hence the CRZ notification was formulated in 2011.
• It declared the coastal stretches of India and its territorial waters, excluding Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
• It restricted the setting up and expansion of any industry, operations or processes and manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances there.
• Then the respective state governments and UT’s were directed to prepare CZMP by identifying and classifying the CRZ areas.

What action did Goa take?

• Goa is India’s smallest state with 105 km coastline.
• The state environment department directed the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management to prepare the CZMP.
• National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) is an agency approved by the Centre located in Chennai.
• The NCSCM’s draft report stated that the proposed actions present in the CZMP will be implemented by administrative or other public authorities and by the private sector.
• The plan aimed to address the priority management issues in the coastal zone over a defined implementation period.

Why has the draft CZMP met with criticism?

• The draft plan provided only 30-day limit for inviting suggestions and objections to the draft from the public.
• This is contrary to the 60-day limit provided by the Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
• Environmental activists question the state government’s intention of fixing only one day to decide the plan for the entire coastline of Goa.
• It is also alleged that several errors are reported in the draft CZMP and they are:

1. Re-zoning of beach areas are carried out without any legal basis.

2. The maps are put for public hearing without examining the errors pointed out by village communities earlier.

3. Several illegal constructions are allowed in the draft which indicates there is an indirect influence on its preparation.

4. Locals and fishermen claim that some homes, villages, municipal areas and churches are left out in the CZMP.

Source: The Indian Express