Lok Sabha Question No. 335 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Coastal Zone Management Plan and Coastal Regulation Zone
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 335

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Coastal Zone Management Plan and Coastal Regulation Zone

## 335*.  SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES:

Will the MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  time  by  which  the  Government  will  notify  the  Coastal  Zone  Management  Plan (CZMP) for the State of Goa;
- (b) whether the  Government is aware that the  Hon. High Court of Bombay established SIT to investigate Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations and to probe manipulation  of  documents  for  plots  in  ecologically  sensitive  Coastal  Regulation Zones;
- (c) if so, the actions taken by the Government to avoid such violations happening in other coastal States;
- (d) whether there have been Reports of any such violations from the State of Goa;
- (e) whether there has been any reporting of any instance of tempering with the original CZMP of the Coastal areas in Goa; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARA  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *335  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  24/03/2025 REGARDING 'COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND COASTAL REGULATION  ZONE'  RAISED  BY  SHRI  CAPTAIN  VIRIATO  FERNANDES, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

- (a) Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Goa on 6 th  September 2022 in accordance with the provisions  of  CRZ  Notification  of  2011.  However,  the  Ministry  has  not  received  any proposal from the Government of Goa for updating the CZMP as per the provisions of the CRZ Notification of 2019. Until the updated CZMP as per the CRZ Notification of 2019 is approved, the provisions of the CRZ Notification of 2011 will remain in effect in Goa.
- (b) to  (f)  As  per  the  information  received  from  the  Government  of  Maharashtra,  in compliance  to  the  Hon'ble  High  Court  of  Bombay  order  dated  23/10/2024,  the Commissioner  of  Police  has vide order dated 26/10/2024  constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the violations of Coastal Zone Regulations and probe the  alleged  manipulations in the Revenue maps  (for which Sate  Government is the  custodian). The  approved  Coastal  Zone  Management Plans  (CZMPs)  are  digitally available on website of State Coastal Zone Management  Authority for public information,  which  ensures  greater  transparency,  making  it  easier  to  monitor  and prevent manipulations.

Further,  non-compliances  or  violation  of  the  provisions  of  CRZ  notification  attracts penal  action  as  per  Section  15  and  19  of  The  Environmental  (Protection) Act,  1986. Additionally, all SCZMAs have been delegated the authority for taking action as per the provision of Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. MoEFCC sensitizes all  Coastal  State/UT  CZMAs  for  close  monitoring  for  any  violations  and  ensure compliances of the provisions of CRZ Notifications on regular basis through meetings and formal communication. MoEFCC has not received any report on such violations or manipulations  with  regard  to  the  State  of  Goa.  As  per  information  provided  by  the Government of Goa, they have not received any report of tampering of approved maps.