VASCO: The General Secretary of The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), Olencio Simoes lambasted South Goa Collector for organizing the Coastal Zonal Management Plan (CZMP) public hearing violating its own National Security Act (NSA) and curfew order dated order no 37/19/2020/L & O/MAG/7173 which was extended.
In a press release issued by NFF, referred to the order stating anyone violating the order will be booked under Code of Criminal procedure. The Collector of South Goa will be solely responsible if any of the participants or speakers who had attended the public hearing contract COVID as the social distancing norms were flouted.
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Olencio said that neither the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) members nor the South Goa Collector paid heed to the objections raised on the 15 minutes stipulated to every speaker. This restricted timing has clearly violated the public hearing norms and EIA notification 2006 and procedure to conduct a public hearing in Appendix IV that clearly states “every person at the venue shall be granted the opportunity to seek information or clarification”.
The release further mentioned that on Thursday people apparently pleaded at 6.00 pm to adjourn the public hearing till Friday, citing curfew order restriction and public transportation issue. Many speakers protested the proceeding the given time and walked out from the venue. Collector rather continued the public meeting with limited speakers till 3.00 am. As a result, only 50 out of hundreds registered speakers could actually speak. This violated the EIA notification 2006 and procedure to conduct a public hearing in Appendix IV, which clearly states that “every person at the venue shall be granted the opportunity to seek information or clarification”.
NFF demanded that before finalising the draft CZMP, all the objections received till date from fishermen organization, panchayats and civil society should be incorporated in the final CZMP failing which NFF would be forced to take GCZMA to task.
