PANJIM: The General Secretary of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) and Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) Olencio Simoes on Wednesday welcomed the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal bench, New Delhi, for re-conducting the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) Public hearing which was violated by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) citing Covid protocols.
Olencio further stated that three fishermen organization Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pagui Samaj, The Canacona Taluka Gabit Fishermen Trawler/Mechanised Craft Owner Co-operative society and GRE filed the petition which the help of Goa Foundation citing basic procedural flaws in conducting the public hearing which had just allowed 100 participants in both the Venues of North and South Goa.
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It is to be noted that GRE was one of the two applicants in the NGT matter, with the other being Goa Foundation, who argued the case.
Olencio stated that GCZMA along with The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) has consistently failed to prepare proper CZMPs even after having been paid Rs 2 crore for the same by the government.
“Therefore we demand that the NCSCM should be dropped and The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) or any other Goan reputed institution should be given the task to prepare the CZMP in accordance with the Annexure-I of the CRZ Notification 2011, which has laid down clear guidelines for preparation of the plan,” said Simoes.
Olencio further pointed out that since the fishing community is a primary stakeholder, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) has to ensure livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities, living in the coastal areas also to conserve and protect coastal stretches.
“GCZMA should conduct the public hearings at multiple locations, at taluka levels, on different dates. By doing so as many as 173 fishing villages, fishermen communities representatives can attend and submit their objections so that a proper CZMP plan is finalized looking at the interest of the State and the fishing community,” Olencio added.
