Public consultations over coastal management plan from Friday

The State Government is planning to hold taluka wise public consultation to frame a new Coastal Zone Management Plan. The first hearing is scheduled on Friday for Pernem. However, a section of civic soceity is upset and plans to boycott these public consultations.

Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has rebutted most of the allegations of the various NGOS on the issue.

He said that the government had issued fresh work order on 9 March at the cost of 98.78 lakhs rupees to the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management agency to draft CZMP.

There was also allegation that CZMP was not prepared as per CRZ Notification 2011. But the Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral says that NCSCM will follow this notification.

First public consultation will held in Pedne taluka on Friday. But Pednekars have decided to boycott this consultation fearing their homes along coastline might face the axe due to the CZMP.

They complained that their houses along the coastline are shown within 200 meters of CRZ marking.