Team Herald
PANJIM: Alleging that the public consultation held on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Panjim city was “futile”, “farcical” and an “eyewash”, a former councilor has demanded that the revised plan, with incorporation of the suggestions and objections made by the citizens, be kept open for further clarification.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) had on October 11 conducted a public consultation on the draft plan, which was attended by large number of locals, especially the traditional fishermen community aka ramponnkars, who had pointed out various anomalies in the plan.
Former city councilor Nelson Cabral has submitted a representation to CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, signed by nearly 150 people, with various suggestions and objections to the plan. “The entire consultation process for the city CZMP was futile, farcical and a sheer eye wash for the tax payers,” Cabral alleged.
He said that it is inevitable that upon considering the suggestions and objections, the incorporation of the same in the revised plan is imperative. He demanded that the revised plan be accordingly kept for further clarification in public interest.
They have pointed out that the area along the Rue de Qurem creek till its confluence with the Mandovi river be classified as CRZ II, west side of Sports Authority of India complex stands classified as CRZ II, Gaspar Dias beach to Caranzalem beach up to Cabo Raj Niwas to Dona Paula jetty stands classified as CRZ III, etc.
Cabral said that the conflicting jurisdictions of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority and the newly formed Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority, needs to be considered in the plan for effective and successful implementation.
