PANJIM, Sept. 29 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, has granted Goa till December 31, to complete the much-delayed Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the State. At the same time, the State has obtained a green signal from the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to conduct a 'virtual' public hearing on the draft plan.

Citing the 'lockdown' and 'curfew' restrictions, imposed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Goa government had pleaded before the NGT seeking an extension of 11 months till March 10, 2021 to finalise the plan, drafted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).

However, the Principal Bench, via video conferencing, on Monday granted Goa till D...