Goa CM dispels doubts over Centre's new coastline regulation

PANAJI: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has said that concerns raised by state legislators over the environment ministry's draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018 are unwarranted.
Even if it is finalised, the draft CRZ notification cannot be implemented without consulting the public, Parrikar said in the state Assembly yesterday.

The environment ministry recently framed new rules governing the country's coastline in which it has proposed expanding the land area for development activities and tourism infrastructure.

The norms also simplify the procedure for CRZ clearances.

The state government had last month given its nod to the new guidelines.

The Goa assembly members, including deputy speaker Michael Lobo, had earlier expressed fears that the new rules could allow uncontrolled commercial activities along the shoreline, thereby severely impacting the environment.

Several NGOs had also opposed it for reducing the CRZ area, measured from High Tide Line (HTL), from the current 200 metres to just 50 metres.

Parrikar said the draft CRZ notification 2018 proposes a reduction in NDZ only for land along rivers and coastal areas where the population density is more than 2,161 (people) per sq km.

"Goa has no panchayat where the population density is so much and that is why the reduction of NDZ does not imply to us," he said.

He said no relaxation has been given to any hotel project for expansion in the coastal regulation zone.

"The draft CRZ notification 2018 does not give any special permission or exemption to any hotel," Parrikar said, responding to a cut motion moved by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar in the House.

Goa has 105km-long coastline which is the hub of tourism and fishing activity.

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change had uploaded the draft CRZ Notification, 2018 on its website on April 18 and sought comments from the public.