The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has sought to know from the state directorate of environment and directorate of fisheries if any fishing villages have been notified in Goa under CRZ 2011 notification or under any state or central government act. The information has been sought in a case pertaining to 121 structures in CRZ area in Baina, for which demolition orders had been issued. The structures had been identified as per a report by the deputy collector for Mormugao. The owners of the structures had appealed against the demolition orders before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), stating that they were part of a fishing village. Accordingly, NGT told the GCZMA that it should have considered fishing villages when taking a decision. The fishermen argued before the GCZMA that the notices have been against traditional fishermen, all of whom have been in the business for generations and have fishing boats or canoes registered in their name. The fishermen said that the state coastal zone management plan (CZMP) is still in the process of being finalised and fishing villages will be demarcated in the plan. The CZMP will require structures of traditional fishermen to be protected. And so the fishermen from Baina asked the disposal of the cases for demolition at Baina may be kept on hold till the CZMP is finalised. The GCZMA accordingly sought information if there is any fishing village identified in Goa. The authority has also sought to know from the Mormugao municipality how long the area in Katem Baina, where the structures stand, is part of urban area. Owners of the structures had appealed against the demolition orders before the NGT, stating that they were part of a fishing village. Accordingly, NGT told the GCZMA that it should have considered fishing villages when taking a decision.
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