PANAJI: The Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh has in a communication to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat stated that majority of constructions along the state’s coast were permissible under Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 1991.

Mr Kamat told the Goa legislative assembly on Friday that Mr Ramesh in his letter dated March 22, 2010, has stated that while examining the violations in the state it was found that majority of these constructions were used as net-mending sheds, toilets, boat repair yards, extension to existing houses that were also used for warehousing of fish and other products.

The Chief Minister further said that Mr Ramesh has, however, stated that these structures have been categorised as violation since their owners had not obtained permission from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.

As regards to the issue of jetties in the writ petition before the Bombay High Court wherein the court had directed the owners of the jetties to obtain permission under the CRZ law from the MoEF, Mr Ramesh has said that his ministry has accorded post-facto clearance to the jetties and that the state government initiate action accordingly and file an affidavit following the permission given by MoEF and accord approval for such structures.

The letter further states that as regards to the constructions between 200-500 metres, as per CRZ notification, the constructions/reconstruction of dwelling units between 200 and 500 metres of high tide line were permitted so long as it was within the ambit of traditional rights and customary uses such as existing fishing villages and "gaothans."

The letter also states that building permission for such construction/reconstruction would be subject to the conditions that the total number of dwelling units should not be more than twice the number of existing units and that the total covered area on all floors should not exceed 33 per cent of the plot size and the overall height should not exceed 9 metres with not more than two floors.

Mr Ramesh has further stated that the issue was that in the CRZ area the dwelling units have increased more than twice the existing (structures constructed prior to February 19, 1991) units and that they should not have been doubled.

He has also stated that it needed to be ascertained if the plots, including the dwelling units, were in existence prior to 1991 and the same dweller constructed "pucca" house on the same plot after 1991 when his economic status improved. If it was proved than such cases would not be violation of the CRZ notification, 1991.

With regard to the commercial structures, which have come in violation of the CRZ notification, the Goa government might undertake a ground verification by state agencies not involved in CRZ matters, and initiate action in accordance with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, against such violations, Mr Ramesh has said adding that the ground verification including the action to be initiated against the violations needed to be carried out within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the letter.

The Chief Minister has in the meanwhile thanked the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr Ramesh for fulfilling the promise made to the people of the state. He also said that the decision would also help a large number of traditional fishermen and others living along Goa’s coast.