PANJIM: Notwithstanding the demands of NGOs and citizens, the government has decided to go ahead with its scheduled public hearing on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) on July 7.
Several civil society groups and citizens had on Wednesday approached Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) demanding that the public hearing on the plans scheduled on July 7 be postponed. In North Goa, the hearing will take place at Taleigao Community Hall, while in the South it will be at Ravindra Bhavan.
Aggrieved citizens have said that the public hearing can be held on a document which is scientifically and legally correct and the CZMPs have monumental deficiencies.
Sources from the Environment Minister’s office confirmed that the government is going ahead with the scheduled public hearing and there is no question of reconsideration. “There are no plans to reschedule the hearing,” sources said.
The State Legislative Assembly has organised a presentation on CZMP for Ministers and MLAs on Friday, where elected members can place their comments, suggestions and objections.
Citizens have pointed out that there are just too many errors in the plan and that it is not acceptable. They also said that holding both hearings on a single day in North and South Goa will cause gross injustice to many citizens.
The State government has to finalize and submit the plan to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) before August 31, the deadline set by National Green Tribunal (NGT).
