MARGAO: Dr Jorson Fernandes, president of United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) said the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018 could be misused as on its undercover there appears to be a clever, hidden ploy to sell whatever is left of Goa.
He said with the Mormugao Port Trust having a purportedly new role which points to the acquisition of coastal areas being used by traditional Ramponkars, the future for the true sons of the soil appears to be bleak.
Dr Jorson asserted that the proposed CRZ notification 2018 whilst favouring vested interests with the opening of Goa’s pristine 105-km coast for more commercial activities under the garb of tourism, puts at risk the ecology and the most ecologically sensitive areas like mangroves and sand dunes with dire consequences for Goan traditional fishing communities whose very existence for livelihood could be in jeopardy.
“It is a shame that the CRZ 2018 has shown no concern for the thousands of people living in coastal areas, these being mostly our traditional Ramponkars who depend on fishing totally for their very survival. Such an increase in development projects will surely have an adverse impact on Goan coastal communities,” Dr Jorson stressed.
