Non-compliance by NIO, depts delays coastal zone management plan

Panaji: Finalisation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), 2019 has been delayed due to non-submission of environment management plan for ecological sensitive areas and integrated island management plan by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and eco tourism plan by tourism and forest departments. Once these are finalised, state govt will hold public consultation to finalise the plans and CZMP.

The task for preparation of CZMP, 2019 has been awarded to the National Centre for Earth Sciences (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, and the institute has forwarded the draft to the govt.

The department of environment and climate change forwarded the draft CZMP, 2019 to various state govt departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and sought their comments and suggestions, and they were supposed to submit it to the environment department by March. A senior officer said that only three departments have submitted their objections and suggestions.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that objections and suggestions would be invited once the plan is placed for public hearing.

As per the CRZ notification 2019, different types of the coastal zone management plan have to be prepared, including the environment management plan for ecological sensitive areas.

Department of environment and climate change has awarded the work of preparation of the environment management plan to the NIO. A senior officer said that the draft plans, which were supposed to be submitted by the NIO, are yet to be received.

Tourism department and forest department have to provide the eco tourism plan to state govt, but both have failed to prepare and submit it

Tourism plan is to permit temporary tourism facilities on the beaches which include shacks, toilets or washrooms, changing rooms, shower panels, walkways constructed using interlocking pavers, blocks etc.

State govt has appointed NIO to prepare an integrated island management plan as applicable to smaller islands in Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar as per island protection zone notification, but the NIO has yet to submit it to govt.