The plan has been rejected by the government and sent back. The public consultations are carried out so that the people can be heard and their suggestions be incorporated in the plan. The reason why the CZMP was rejected was because the people were not given a hearing, and a large number of discrepancies were found in the plan. Now the people of each taluka are being given a chance and Pernem was the first of the talukas. It was expected that the residents of the northern taluka of the State would have grabbed this opportunity to be heard and to get their viewpoint – the very local issues that only they are aware of – brought to the notice of the government and the planners. But this didn’t happen.
The people of Pernem taluka came to the venue in large numbers and stood outside the hall where the consultation was to be held. They didn’t enter the hall where the minister and the officials awaited them, and when the consultation took place there was less than a handful of people attending. The pictures on the front page of today’s edition show the stark contrast of the number of people crowded at the entrance of the Pernem Government College and the few seats occupied in the meeting hall. This was a scene that was least expected, as the expectation was that the people would grab the opportunity of the consultation to raise their issues.
Why miss out on the opportunity given by the government to be heard? If the people have issues and they want these to be addressed, this was the best opportunity to be heard and have some assurance of redressal. If after having been given an opportunity to present their case the people boycott the session that has been called, how will they then be able to critique the final plan which will be drafted and presented as a fait accompli? The people objected to the CZMP as drafted and presented by the agency that was tasked with drawing it up. What purpose is served in rejecting the consultation process?
It is time to keep politics out of the CZMP consultation process. If, as alleged by Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral that this was a political movement where ‘people from Salcete and Canacona were bought’ to disrupt the consultation, then it is condemnable. Cabral was quite right when he said, “There was no need for people from all over Goa to come and protest here. Result of this is that the people from Pernem will suffer since they have not attended the consultation meeting.” Consultations will be held at each taluka, the next one is today (Saturday) at Canacona. Let the people from the talukas attend them, and not others. Every taluka will get a chance to put forth their views. This should be a people’s movement and not a disrupted opportunity to score political brownie points.
The plan, when it is presented to the NGT, will be final and will decide the future of the coastal areas of the State for the long term. This cannot be left to be prepared by the bureaucrats and agencies that do not understand the State and its people. These consultations are extremely important and have to be attended by the local people with a proper understanding of what is expected of them and how to make their presentations. NGOs in the field of environment protection have to step forward to enlighten the people on the process and how it can be beneficial to them. It cannot be left to chance.
