Minutes of the 25th meeting of the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority held on 10-04-2015 The 25th meeting of the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) was held on 05-01-2015 under chairmanship of Shri P. K. Taneja, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forests & Environment Department and Chairman, GCZMA in the Committee Room, F&ED, and Gandhinagar. A list of the members and other participants, who attended the meeting, appears at Annexure A. Also a list of the representative of various project proponents, who have made presentation before the Authority is, appears at Annexure-B. Initiating the meeting, with the permission of the Additional Chief Secretary, Forests & Environment Department, and Chairman of GCZMA, the Member Secretary, GCZMA, welcomed all the members of the GCZMA and other participants. He briefed the Members of the GCZMA about the agenda items for the meeting and various actions taken by the Department in compliance of the various decisions taken during last meeting The agenda wise discussion and decisions taken thereafter is as under: Agenda item No: 25.1:- Compliance report with respect to the decision taken in the 24th meeting of the GCZMA, which was held on 05-01- 2015. Preparation of an action plan for development of Bio- Shielding project for entire area between Dahej and Hazira by way of planting various species of vegetation, such as mangroves, seaweeds, sea grass, casurina to control the soil erosion, stabilize the areas and for protection in case of Tsunami in association with any institute/Organization having some experience in this Field The Authority was apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, the GEC has been requested vide this office 1 letter dated 30-01-2015 to submit report before the date of next GCZMA meeting It was also apprised that PCCF and Head of Forests Force, Gujarat had been requested to provide all necessary guidance and support to GEC for taking up this task for development of Bio-Shielding. The GEC appraised the authority that they have started work related to development of bio-shielding as decided by the GCZMA, a team from the GEC visited potential sites as recommended by the MS University and the work is under progress. It was further submitted that the GEC has prepared an Action Plan for development of Bio-Shield project. The ACS, F&ED and Chairman, GCZMA asked GCZMA to make a presentation on entire proposal for finalization of it. The Authority discussed the issue and after detailed deliberation, the GCZMA decided to ask GEC to prepare a comprehensive report and action required to be taken for implementation of plan prepared by the GEC before the date of next GCZMA meeting. Pollution problem near Veraval Harbour, Veraval , Dist: Junagadh. The Authority was apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, the Urban Development and Urban Housing Development Department, GMB, Fisheries Comissionerate , GEC and GPCB have been requested to take necessary actions vide this office letter dated 30-01-2015. GPCB, submitted that actions are being taken against the erring industries and untreated effluent in this area is not allowed to be discharged in to sea. The representative of the Fisheries Commissioner submitted that they are also taking necessary action in this regard. 2 The Chairman, GCZMA asked all concerned Departments to submit Action Take Report (ATR) to the GCZMA before the next meeting. The Authority deliberated the issue and decided to ask UD&UHD, GEC, GMB and GPCB to take all necessary actions and submit an Action Taken Report to Forests and Environment Department before the next meeting. Study of Shore line Change maps prepared by the Anna University, Chennai to be done by MS University The Authority was apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, the Narmada , Water Resource, Water Supply & Kalpasar Department , Government of Gujarat has been requested to submit the Action Taken Report vide this office letter dated 30-01-2015 . The reply was awaited The Authority took a note that the Narmada , Water Resource, Water Supply & Kalpasar Department , Government of Gujarat Irrigation Department has constituted a Task Force for Coastal erosion works under Chairmanship of Dr. M. Baba , Trivandrum vide Resolution No-SIC/2011/2200/64/J dated 06-08-2012. The Chairman, GCZMA desired to know the scope of the work assigned to the Task Force alongwith its function and duties. The Authority deliberated the issue and decided to send reminder to Irrigation Department to submit progress in the matter and submit an action taken report in this regard. It was also decided to call Secretary, Irrigation Department, Government of Gujarat and concerned officials from irrigation Department, in next meeting of GCZMA Representation received from Conservation Action Trust(CAT) regarding alleged destruction of mangroves in 3 State of Gujarat and alleged violations of CRZ Notification thereof. The Authority was appraised that as per the decisions of the GCZMA, all actions have been taken by the F&ED. Based on the decision of GCZMA, the GEC constituted a committee to carry out site visits for verification of the alleged mangrove destructions and violations of the CRZ Notification. The GEC has prepared a report in this matter based on site visit carried out by the Committee constituted by it. The same has been submitted to the NGT. The Authority was also apprised that SCNs were issued to the Essar Ports Limited and Kandla Port Trust based on the observations of the Committee constituted by the GEC. The Authority was further apprised that Shri Debi Goenka, Executive Trustee, Conservation Action Trust, Mumbai has filed an affidavit before the NGT about the proposal for development of Multi Product Port based SEZ at Kandla and Tuna, Kutch by the Kandla Port Trust, wherein they have proposed destruction of mangrove in the area of @ 312.50 ha, and sought directions from the NGT for not allowing destruction of mangroves for this proposal considering the NGT’s order dated 09-12-2013. The Authority was apprised that Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have been issued to the KPT on 27-11-2014 to ensure that there shall not be any destruction of mangroves in their port area under KPT jurisdiction by any of existing as well as proposed activities, and to ensure that existing mangroves are protected. The Authority was further apprised that a team under Chairmanship of Director, GEC visited the proposed site for development of Multi Product SEZ of KPT on 2nd January, 4 2015. The report is under preparation and the report is awaited. The Authority decided to ask GEC to submit report immediately in this matter, Further to this, Authority took a note of it and appreciated the action taken by the Department. The Authority has also decided to follow up matter in the NGT through Advocate and submit latest status about the Hon’ble NGT’s order in the matter in next meeting of the GCZMA. CRZ Clearance for proposed expansion of existing jetty by construction of two additional berths C&D at Vadinar Dist: Jamnagar by M/S Vadinar Oil Terminal Limited(VOTL) The Authority was apprised that during the last meeting of GCZMA held on 05-01-2015, it has already been decided to recommend the proposal of M/S VOTL to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India on receipt of the report from the PCCF(WL), for which it the PCCF(WL) has been requested to submit the report. The PCCF (WL) submitted report with his opinion. The Authority took a note of it and decided to send recommendations to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting. CRZ Clearance for the proposed project for construction of administration building and Staff quarters at Okha ,Dist: Devbhumi Dwarka by M/S Gujarat Maritime Board The Authority was apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, recommendations have been forwarded to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on 24- 02-2015. The Authority took a note of it and appreciated the action taken by the Department. 5 CRZ Clearance for Six laning of Ahmedabad –Bamanbore- Samakhiyali &Bamanbore-Rajkot section of NH8A & 8B in State of Gujarat by M/S National High Authority of India(NHAI) The Authority was apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, recommendations have been forwarded to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on 18-02-2015. The Authority took a note of it and appreciated the action taken by the Department. Clarification regarding applicability of CRZ Notification 2011 for total 6 maps received duly superimposed regarding location at Jamnagar, Surat, Bharuch , Bhavnagar district The Authority was apprised that during the 24th GCZMA meeting, it was decided to carry out site visit that each site should be visited by the Technical Committee for physical verification of the site. It was further apprised that the detailes agenda is as per Agenda Item No 25-10 The Decision of the GCZMA is as per Agenda item no- 25.10 Other Issues The Authority was apprised that in the 24th GCZMA meeting it was decided to frame mangrove policy. This task was to be taken up by the PCCF (WL) and Director, GEER Foundation, and Director (Environment). The authority was further apprised that as decided in the 24th GCZMA meeting, the PCCF(WL) and MS,GEC and Director, GEER Foundation have been requested to take necessary action in this matter. However, there is no progress in the matter The Authority deliberated the issues and after detailed discussion, it was decided that now this task would be taken up by the PCCF (WL) and Director, GEER Foundation, and Director (Environment) and MS, GEC.