TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Team Herald
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant faced the wrath of the public over the CRZ house demolition issue, during a campaign meeting at Mandrem. CM Sawant while addressing the grievances of the traditional fisher folks whose houses were demolished under CRZ, stated that the government is fighting ‘for’ the people and not ‘against’.
On Sunday, Chief Minister mentioned that he was unaware of the demolition issue, was informed later by the MLA and assured a solution to the people. While speaking to the public, CM also stated that he would hold a meeting with a panel consisting of the panchayat body and other officials to find a solution to the CRZ demolition case.
“I have not given any solution. I would like to stress that I have not given a solution in this matter but the matter which is there in the court right now; I will fight for you people. When the Secretary passed the notice of demolition I was unaware of it, that’s when the MLA told me about the issue. I will discuss this issue from tomorrow onwards with the Sarpanch, secretary and MLA,” said CM Sawant
Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar raised the ongoing concerning issue of CRZ at Arambol at the meeting with the public. He also highlighted and put forth other concerning problems of the villagers to the Chief Minister. “Not only the CRZ officials but the authorities from the Pollution Control Board have troubled the people in the past multiple times. When I questioned the authorities, they say that we only listen to higher authorities or Chief Minister,” said MLA Jit Arolkar
During the meeting, Mandrem public shed light on the fact that the traditional fisher folks and toddy tappers were residing before the introduction of CRZ rule in 1991. The Government of India had issued a notification under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 administered by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to protect and conserve the environment and ecosystem on the coastline of the country. “Our forefathers were living in the CRZ area way before the CRZ was issued. I was born here, my father, grandfather and his father were also born here. CRZ came later. We were not aware of the CRZ regulation. We are a self-employed person, which means that we are fully dependent on the fishing and toddy-tapping business. We never approached the government for jobs. Today we are facing this injustice from the government and we request the honourable CM and the government to give us a solution to this problem,” said a local while addressing the event. The locals requested the government to file an affidavit to draw an ordinance and regularize the plan.
