Proposal to permit panchayats to clear foreshore fishing activities in notified fishing villages; Calangute, Candolim, Canacona, Taleigao and other ODP areas suggested to be demarcated as CRZ II. In what could give major relief to the fishing community, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in its draft Goa Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has proposed notifying fishing villages, wherein all foreshore facilities required for fishing and fishery allied activities would be permitted by panchayats in areas under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). Further, NCSCM has proposed that Calangute, Candolim, Canacona, Taleigao and other ODP areas be demarcated as CRZ II. The draft plan would be soon placed in public domain for one month, seeking suggestions and objections to the proposals, followed by district level public hearings. The draft copy would be submitted to National Green Tribunal (NGT) on June 1, when the next hearing is scheduled. Sources confirmed that NCSCM has completed its draft CZMP and on Wednesday, a representation would be made to the Chief Minister and all Ministers on the plan. Sources said that NCSCM has proposed to notify fishing villages as per CRZ notification 2011, under which reconstruction, repair works of structures of local communities, including fishermen community, shall be permissible in CRZ from permission from Panchayat. The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) in CRZ notification 2011, Goa specific, had directed the State government to notify the fishing villages wherein all foreshore facilities required for fishing and fishery allied activities such as traditional fish processing yards, boat building or repair yards, net mending yards, ice plants, ice storage, auction hall, jetties may be permitted by Gram Panchayat in the CRZ area. Currently, the fishing community has to approach Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to seek necessary permissions. Sources said the draft plan would be kept open for public suggestions and objections, which would be followed by a public hearing on the same at the district level. The necessary suggestions would be then placed before GCZMA for consideration, who will in-turn forward the same to MoEF and then to National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA), sources explained the procedure. MoEF would be the final authority to approve and notify the plan.