Goa Govt seeks amendment to CRZ laws

The Goa Government said on Thursday that it has sought a one time exemption from the Union government insulating the traditional houses and their work-sheds from being demolished under coastal regulation zone (CRZ) legislation.

The Goa government said on Thursday that it has sought a one time exemption from the Union government insulating the traditional houses and their work-sheds from being demolished under coastal regulation zone (CRZ) legislation.

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Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Thursday informed the state legislative assembly that a delegation had recently met Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi and pleaded that he gives a one-time exemption to these houses, which fear demolition for alleged CRZ violations.

"The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest has also been requested to amend the CRZ laws so that these houses could be saved," Sequeira said.

Around 2,500 structures within zero to 200 metres of High Tide Line are facing notices from the local panchayats as many of them have no proof to claim that they existed before 1991, when CRZ was enacted. The local panchayats are acting on last year's High Court order, which took suo moto cognizance of large scale CRZ violation in the coastal belt.