Team Herald
PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has complained before Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) against Director of Panchayat and Director of Municipal Administration alleging corruption as the two departments, did not invite local bodies to send their comments on the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Siddharth Karapurkar challenged the government to come clean on the ‘deal’ made to dilute the existing provisions of the CRZ notification that has managed to save the coast to a large extent from land sharks.
The party criticised the approach of the government on the sensitive issue, which could have serious ramification on the life of the people, whose livelihood is dependent on the coast. “On one hand the houses of poor fishermen were being demolished for being too close to the sea, on the other hand government is trying to satisfy the greed of big time hoteliers and casino operators to capture prime beach property without any concern for the consequences that will follow,” Karapurkar said.
He alleged that this move of the government would drive the final nail in the coffin for Goans and would eradicate the last traces of Goenkarponn that have been surviving because of the people who were fighting to protect the environment.
AAP pointed out that the Directorate of Environment, through a circular dated June 6, had directed all government agencies to allow discussion on the proposed CRZ amendments, especially in the coastal panchayats and municipalities.
“However, the directors of panchayat and municipal administration did not show any seriousness towards the issue. It appears that these authorities have deliberately, with mal intention, suppressed the draft notification and have not acted in a manner that would serve public interest,” AAP said in their complaint.
“The failure on the part of these authorities is required to be investigated from the angle of corruption. It is required to ascertain the reason for failure,” AAP said.
