Porvorim: Several civil society groups under the banner Various Voluntary Associations of Goa (VVAG) today staged protest outside the office of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) demanding immediate scrapping of draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018.
VVAG has peitioned Governor Dr Mridula Sinha, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other government authorities expressing their negative comments to the draft notification.
It has urged Government to inform Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) immediately that the draft CRZ notification 2018 be scrapped a new CRZ law be drawn up based on facts, science, public interest and most importantly public participation.
It has asked Government to ensure that the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Goa State is prepared without any delays by mapping all the spaces and areas used for or by fishing and other local communities and all the khazans, bunds, wetlands, mudflats, salt pans, mangroves, sand dunes and sandy beaches, coastal cliffs, turtle nesting beaches, coastal fields, creeks, western ghat headlands, etc.
“Carry out detailed studies in consultation with local communities, of the impact of the politices of the past 50 years on the CRZ, the local communities and the environment, including the details of homes and structures of local residents that have been demolished the traditional coastal communities of fisher folk, toddy tappers, farmers, horticulturalists, cattle herders, craftsmen, etc and prepare a detailed report,” they demanded.
VVAG has asked government to carry out further study in consultation with local communities of the non-traditional activities that have been allowed in the past on the coast, rivers, and khazan land, like that of housing project, industries, casino, jetties, etc and its implication on the environment.
