PORVORIM: Against the backdrop of protests from almost every taluka, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral has asked the panchayats to prepare and submit their own people’s CZMP to the environment department failing which, the State will submit the plan prepared by the NCSCM.

Cabral added that wherever he went to explain the CZMP he has been given names. “We want to ask the people what they want but there are not ready to listen. How do we do a policy or a plan if people do not listen?” he asked.

Cabral said that the govt has decided that the plan will be of the people and for the people.

“It will be a people’s scientific plan. Hence, the panchayats will have to prepare their own plan and submit it to the environment department. If need be, we will give them our technical experts but if they fail to do so then whatever plan sent by NCSCM will be sent to MoEFF & CC”, he said.

Cabral said that the govt will ask the NGT for extension of submission for CZMP.

Stating that the govt aim is to protect the eco-sensitive areas, coasts and the NDZs, he said the TCP dept has no authority to prepare the land use map for a State.

“The GCZMA has to prepare a plan for 0-500 meters and submit to TCP and based on that the TCP has to prepare plan with the suggestion of the people and the panchayat,” he said.

In a direct warning to the establishments polluting rivers, Cabral said that his dept is in the process of issuing notices to people who are dish charging sewage and water into the river. 

He also warned the MLAs against recommending licences to the polluters saying “he will not entertain such favours and instead expose them in the House.”

On the coal pollution by MPT, he said his dept is monitoring the situation.

“We will do best to ensure that that pollution is within permissible limits by MPT,” he said.

About making Goa plastic free, he said, the govt has already initiated steps by introducing a Bill to impose penalty on plastic.