Major relief to Goan shack owners

Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In a major relief to the Goan shack owners, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified that the temporary structures on beaches may not be removed during monsoons also it notifies that traditional coastal communities can remove teh sand bars.
In a draft notification issued on November 1, the MoEF&CC said the Central Government had received representations from different stakeholders viz. the State Governments for making certain amendments in CRZ Notification 2019 interalia for delegating the powers of giving CRZ clearance to the State Coastal Zone Management Authorities/State Governments for small infrastructure projects located in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas.
“Therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of subsection (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with clause (d) of subrule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the further amendments in the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019,” it said.
It further added, “In paragraph 5.1.2, after sub-clause (xviii), the following sub-clauses shall be inserted, namely: – “(xix) Purely temporary and seasonal structures (shacks) customarily put up and maybe retained during the monsoon season with adequate precautions.”
Regarding the State of Goa and Maharashtra, such structures (shacks), customarily put up between September and May, maybe retained during June to August.
“Provided that the facilities available in these structures shall remain non-operational during June to August.”
All permitted or regulated project activities attracting the provisions of this notification shall be required to obtain CRZ clearance before their commencement except those special dispensation as mentioned in the notification, it said.
The draft notification also says that all development activities or projects in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas, which are regulated or permissible as per this notification, shall be dealt with by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for CRZ clearance, based on the recommendation of the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority with the following exceptions namely: Stand-alone jetties, Breakwaters, Groynes, Salt works, Slipways and manual Erosion control bunds which shall be dealt by concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority or SEIAA/Ministry, as the case may be, in case the projects attract EIA Notification, 2006.
“The projects or activities listed as exceptions in Para 7 clause (ii), shall be considered for clearance by the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority within sixty days of the receipt of the complete proposal from the proponent.”
Further, on removal of sand bars in CRZ areas: the notification says, the sand bars in the intertidal areas shall be removed by traditional coastal communities only by manual method (i.e. sand collection in non-mechanized dinghies or small boats using baskets/buckets by human beings) in various coastal states.
“The State Government may permit such removal of sand in specified time period in a particular area along with specific quantity subject to conditions such as registration of local community persons permitted to remove the sand manually and shall be renewed on yearly basis.”