Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa has come under scrutiny from the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) after State representatives failed to attend a key meeting focused on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) compliance, enforcement measures and coastal planning issues.
The Authority expressed concern over the absence of Goa officials from the review meeting, which examined pending Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs), monitoring mechanisms and the status of action taken against coastal violations across the country. It cautioned that such non-participation by State Coastal Zone Management Authorities would not be viewed lightly in future.
The NCZMA also flagged Goa’s failure to regularly submit monthly reports on CRZ violations and enforcement action, despite earlier directions requiring coastal States and Union Territories to provide periodic updates. The Authority stressed that timely reporting is essential for effective monitoring and assessment at the national level.
Data reviewed during the meeting underscored the scale of the issue in Goa. Of all CRZ violation cases recorded nationwide during a five-year assessment period ending in March 2023, more than half were reported from Goa, placing the State at the top of the list for coastal regulation breaches.
The Authority noted that several coastal States were absent from the deliberations, but Goa’s case attracted particular attention due to the large number of reported violations and the need for closer oversight.
Official records show that hundreds of complaints relating to alleged CRZ violations have been received by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority in recent years. Areas such as Bardez, Canacona and Pernem have witnessed a significant number of complaints, reflecting mounting development activity along Goa’s coastline.
During its review, the NCZMA observed that enforcement efforts in many cases remain limited to the issuance of notices, with relatively slow progress in ensuring compliance or taking corrective action. The Authority emphasized that State agencies already possess adequate legal powers under existing environmental laws and should make greater use of those provisions to strengthen enforcement.
To improve monitoring and speed up action against violations, the Authority suggested that States consider empowering district-level administrations, including Collectors and Magistrates, to deal with CRZ-related cases more directly.
The observations have once again drawn attention to the challenges of managing rapid coastal development while safeguarding environmentally sensitive areas. The NCZMA has called for stronger coordination, improved reporting and more effective enforcement to ensure that coastal regulations are implemented in both letter and spirit.
