It has issued a draft notification inviting comments from public on the Goa Government’s plea to relax the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) restriction to allow temporary and seasonal structures during June to August in the non-operational mode. Minister of State for Environment and Forest Anil Madhav Dave disclosed this in a written reply to Congress MP Shantaram Naik in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. He said the Goa Government had sought removal of the prohibition prohibiting structures on the beach as also regularisation of the dwelling units of the traditional coastal communities including fisher folk built in violation of the CRZ notification. The minister said the dwelling units’ issue was referred to Dr Shailesh Nayak Committee constituted to examine the suggestions of the State Governments for amending CRZ Notification, 2011. The committee has submitted the report, he said, but without disclosing its contents. Dave said an amendment in the 2011 CRZ notification was notified on March 22, extending the validity of the coastal zone management plans (CZMPs) up to January 31, 2017 or till such time the fresh CZMPs are approved by the ministry. In reply to another question by Naik on the Supreme Court’s directives on conserving forests, the minister said the state legislatures can legislate for management and control of the private forests in such a state. He said the legislature can also amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927, relating to the private forests, but it should be in conformity of the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the directions issued by the Supreme Court in its judgments in 1996 and 2011.
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