MARGAO: The South Goa district administration, including the police force, have started gearing up for the public hearing for Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) scheduled on July 8 as all the concerned authorities held the meeting on Friday and also inspected the venue at the SGPDA ground.
District Collector Ruchika Katyal has hinted at an exemption of Section 144, imposed in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A heavy police force will be deployed at the venue in order to control the expected law and order situations.
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In the evening hours district collector held a meeting with South Goa Police Superintendent Pankaj Kumar Singh, besides, Additional Collector Surendra Naik, Deputy Collector Jyoti Kumari, Traffic Police Superintendent P Shirvoikar and DySP Harish Madkaikar. Officials from the Environment Department and Salcete Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar also attended the meeting, followed by an inspection.
The work pertaining to erecting a pandal has already commenced at the SGPDA parking ground. The district administration is expecting a huge crowd for the public hearing, hence are taking full precautionary measures so that no law and order problem is created. A special screen will be put up at the pandal.
Speaking to the media after the inspection District Collector Ruchika Katyal said that public hearing will be conducted in a proper manner and everybody will be given a chance to speak out their grievances.
“Our objective is to maintain law and order, besides all the protocols will be followed with regard to COVID-19. We are putting up two pandals at the venue so that the public doesn’t face any problems”, she stated.
When asked about National Security Act (NSA) she said that it will not be applicable for the public hearing on July 8. NSA is concerned with National security. “We have made arrangement for nearly 3000 people. If needs arouses more arrangements will be done. Order with regard to an exemption in Section 144 will be issued in next few days”, said the collector.
As informed by the sources the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has moved an application to the district collector for exemption of SOP on the day of public hearing.
District administration is expecting protest from the public at the venue on the day of the hearing. At the moment, nearly 700 individuals including farmers, fishermen, and the members of several NGO’s have registered slots for the hearing. However, the administration will open a separate counter for the on-the-spot registration.
On the other hand, several NGOs besides political parties have continued objecting to the public hearing on July 8, in wake of the COVID-19 surge. There is information that NGOs are on move to file a petition before the court, requesting to defer the hearing.
