Panaji: The state government has decided to prepare management plans for eco-sensitive areas (ESAs), eco-tourism and tourism, as well as islands.
The Goa government has asked the National Centre for Earth Science Studies to submit a detailed proposal along with the cost of preparing the management plans.
A senior officer said that in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2019, CRZ-I constitutes the ESAs and their geo-morphological features play a role in maintaining the integrity of the coast.These features include mangroves, corals and coral reefs, sand dunes, biologically active mudflats, national and marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, and wildlife habitats. Other protected areas are covered by the Wild Life (Protection) Act, the Forest (Conservation) Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act.
In the case of a mangrove, if its expanse is more than 1,000 square metres, a buffer of 50 metres shall be provided and such an area shall also constitute the CRZ-I. The CRZ 2019 also mentions salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, horseshoe crab habitats, seagrass beds, nesting grounds of birds, areas or structures of archaeological importance, and heritage sites.
A detailed environment management plan shall be formulated by the states and Union territories for such ESAs, as mapped out by Chennai’s National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, the officer said.
Management plans are required for Goa based on the guidelines which include the regulation of permissible activities in CRZ, CRZ-I, and CRZ-IA, the officer said.
“Eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, and nature trails will be subject to such an eco-tourism plan featuring in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), framed with due consultative processes and public hearings,” the officer said. “Further, the activities will also be subject to environmental safeguards and precautions related to the ESAs.”
CRZ-III defines temporary tourism facilities which shall be permissible in no-development zones and beaches. “Such temporary facilities shall only include shacks, toilets or washrooms, change rooms, showers, seating panels, walkways constructed using interlocking paver blocks, and drinking water facilities,” the officer said. “Such facilities shall, however, be permitted only subject to the tourism plan featuring in the approved CZMP, provided a minimum distance of 10 metres is maintained from the high-tide line.”
The officer said that during the preparation of management plans, areas requiring special consideration will include CRZ for inland backwater islands and islands along the mainland coast.
The Goa government has asked the National Centre for Earth Science Studies to submit a detailed proposal along with the cost of preparing the management plans.
A senior officer said that in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2019, CRZ-I constitutes the ESAs and their geo-morphological features play a role in maintaining the integrity of the coast.These features include mangroves, corals and coral reefs, sand dunes, biologically active mudflats, national and marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, and wildlife habitats. Other protected areas are covered by the Wild Life (Protection) Act, the Forest (Conservation) Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act.
In the case of a mangrove, if its expanse is more than 1,000 square metres, a buffer of 50 metres shall be provided and such an area shall also constitute the CRZ-I. The CRZ 2019 also mentions salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, horseshoe crab habitats, seagrass beds, nesting grounds of birds, areas or structures of archaeological importance, and heritage sites.
A detailed environment management plan shall be formulated by the states and Union territories for such ESAs, as mapped out by Chennai’s National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, the officer said.
Management plans are required for Goa based on the guidelines which include the regulation of permissible activities in CRZ, CRZ-I, and CRZ-IA, the officer said.
“Eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, and nature trails will be subject to such an eco-tourism plan featuring in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), framed with due consultative processes and public hearings,” the officer said. “Further, the activities will also be subject to environmental safeguards and precautions related to the ESAs.”
CRZ-III defines temporary tourism facilities which shall be permissible in no-development zones and beaches. “Such temporary facilities shall only include shacks, toilets or washrooms, change rooms, showers, seating panels, walkways constructed using interlocking paver blocks, and drinking water facilities,” the officer said. “Such facilities shall, however, be permitted only subject to the tourism plan featuring in the approved CZMP, provided a minimum distance of 10 metres is maintained from the high-tide line.”
The officer said that during the preparation of management plans, areas requiring special consideration will include CRZ for inland backwater islands and islands along the mainland coast.