Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Rejecting the State Government’s application for extending the deadline for submission of Coastal Zone Management Plan, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the State Secretary for Environment should not be paid salary if the CZMP is not submitted on time.
“Inspite of NGT directions, CZMP was not finalized. Further extension was sought by way of M.A. No. 55/2020 on the ground that delay was being caused by National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management
(NCSCM). The Tribunal directed that MoEF&CC may monitor the matter and ensure that all process is completed by 31.01.2021.,” the NGT said.
It said that In above background, public hearing was held to finalise the CZMP
but by way of O.A. No. 118/2021, Goa Foundation & Anr. v. Goa Coastal
Zone Management Authority & Ors. deficiencies in conduct of public hearing were pointed out.
“The Tribunal found merit in the objections
and directed that proper public hearing be conducted as per mandate of law. Date of 31.01.2021 for finalizing CZMP was extended till 31.08.2021. The said order was affirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court
in Civil Appeal No. 2325-2326/2021 filed by the Goa Foundation,” it said.
It said that since CZMP has still not been finalised within above extended
time, present application has been filed stating that consideration of objections will require time.
“We have heard learned Counsel. We note that there is breach of mandate of finalizing CZMP as per CRZ Regulations, 2011 for the last ten years, causing failure to regulate
the matters as per law, to the detriment of environment,” the NGT noted.
It said that with regard to
the long delay which has already taken place, we see no justification for
granting the extension sought.
“The State cannot go on in a leisurely manner without concern for its duty. Accordingly, we direct that if CZMP
is not completed even upto 31.12.2021, the concerned Secretary of State of Goa will not be entitled to salary from 01.01.2022 till the default continues,” the NGT order said.
This direction is being issued in the light of the earlier direction in order dated 27.11.2019, which remains uncomplied, in view of the further extensions of time granted earlier, as above.
