Above: Tourists at one of the beaches in Goa

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) principal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, was informed on Thursday (August 10) by the joint director at the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) that Goa will make a coastal zonal master plan to implement the directive regarding buildings within 100 mtrs of the high tide line from Dona Paula Cove/Bay to Vainguinium Beach, Village Taleigao, Goa.

The court was also informed that the state has availed of all the necessary clearance.

The bench is hearing a petition by Shamsunder Shridhar Dalvi & Ors. regarding respecting the coastal area as per a 2011 notification.

On the last date of hearing the court directed the MoEF that a responsible and authorized officer should file an affidavit on what steps have been taken by them after the issuance of the notification of 2011.

The joint director informed the bench that high tide line has been demarcated in the whole country. He said that security clearance must be submitted to MoEF before September 10.

The court directed the MoEF to serve notice to all concerned states and make them present before the Tribunal on the next date. The matter has been listed for September 12.

—India Legal Bureau