The Goa Church has demanded the withdrawal of the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018, saying it seems like “guidelines to facilitate projects rather than protecting the environment”. The Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT), an initiative of the Goa Church, claimed that the notification regularizes violations to CRZ and opens a way for further depredation of the coastal ecology and environment. CRT’s general secretary Father Freddy Braganza, in his letter sent on June 9 to Arvind Nautiyal, director, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has raised objections over the proposed amendments in the notification.
As reported by Business Standard, CRT said in its five-page letter “The way the draft is framed seems more like guidelines to facilitate projects, rather than to protect the environment. In view of this, the draft CRZ notification 2018 should be categorically withdrawn. The draft notification, in terms of its character and contents, in the nature and course of preparation, and the way it is being thrust across is a perfect assault on the environment and livelihood.” Further, it read, “The proposed notification regularizes violations to CRZ and opens a way for further depredation of our coastal ecology and environment.”
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. Under the new draft, CRZ limits on land along the tidal influenced water bodies has been proposed to be reduced from 100 meters or the width of the creek to 50 meters or the width of the creek, whichever is less.
Source: Business Standard
