Panaji (Goa) Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief  Shantaram Naik has accused State government of “putting the rights of traditional fishermen in jeopardy by not preparing the Coastal Zone Management Plan and by not sending them to the Central Government.”

Naik was reacting to the recent directions by National Green Tribunal at Pune directing Goa government along with other states “not to grant any new construction licences within 100 metres of the High Tide Lineand in violation of CRZ Regulations until July 2018.”

Addressing a press conference in Congress House, Naik said that the Centre for Sustainable was Coastal Management has already drafted the plan but State government is delaying in granting the approval for it.

Quoting the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, Naik said “facilities required for local fishing communities such as fish drying yards, auction halls, net mending yards, traditional boat building yards, ice plants , ice crushing units , fish curing facilities and the like are permitted under the notification.

The CRZ authorities have said that  the Government of Goa shall notify the fishing villages wherein all foreshore facilities required for fishing and fishery allied activities such as traditional fish processing yards, boat building or repair yards ,ice plants, ice storage, auction hall, jetties may be permitted by Gram Panchayats in the CRZ area.

Naik said that the said the CRZ notification provides protection for turtle breeding, protection of mangroves, sand dunes , khazan lands and others.

The Congress leader demanded that Goa government should come out with reasons as to why they have  as to why they have ,still not approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. 

Naik said that a balance has to be maintained between rights of communities residing in the coastal areas vis-a-vis tourism and environment.