PORVORIM: Activists and villagers opine that the GCZMA should explain the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) to the people at the taluka level.
It has been learnt that these maps are still not physically available in various panchayats. Even if they are displayed the sarpanch and panch members are claiming they are not experts and cannot read the maps for effective discussion and objections. Non availability of the draft plan in the local official language makes the entire exercise of a public consultation futile and perfunctory for the stakeholders to effectively assist in the planning for the fragile coastal zones of Goa using their experience and knowledge of the local environment. The GCZMA officials should hold a public meeting prior to the public hearing for all the concerned panchayats to explain the reading of maps/legends for any meaningful public hearing and future planning.
The last CZMP approved for Goa in 1996 has been kept valid for more than 20 years. The present CZMP’s were to be prepared within two years of the 2011 CRZ notification, that is, by January 6, 2013. However, from the documents on record, the activists have found that the first orders issued for preparation of these maps was only in the year 2016 and the actual work was done in the year 2017-2018. They opine that the delay in the preparation of these maps is the sole responsibility of the GCZMA and hence should not give an excuse that they are under pressure to pass these maps.
While addressing the media the after meeting the officials from GCZMA, the founder of Goa Foundation, Claude Alvares stated that the CZMP’s have too many flaws in them.
“They have done something that is not correct what is the public hearing going to do. The High Tide line is not marked as per the notification. Several projects which are known to be CRZ violators are not shown in the CZMP. Either there is something wrong with these people or they are highly corrupt. The GCZMA does not have the earlier CZMP’s approved for Goa in 1996 which should be used to compare with the new plans,” Alvares said.
The Co-convener of Goencho Avaaz, Capt Viriato Fernandes said that while preparing these plans they have not consulted the stakeholders.
“We have spotted out several irregularities. The idea was to make good plans and for that two things required are maps and report. The maps are prepared by an agency from Chennai with a lot of flaws. The fishing community is based all along the coastline but the tricky thing is that the fishing communities are shown as wards. This is the future plan of paving way for construction. They should understand that most of our economy is based on the coastline,” Fernandes pointed out.
While Activist, Rama Kankonkar also spoke about the haphazardly chalked out CZMP’s.
“In order to receive objection from the villages the people need to be explained these plan. Neither the stakeholders nor villagers were taken into consideration while preparing these plants. We demand that these plans should be explained in every village. The delay in the preparation of these maps is the sole responsibility of the GCZMA. Please do not tell us that you are under pressure to pass these maps. From past experience we know these plans will determine our coastal future for another two decades,” Kankonkar said.
