Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens for Democracy (C4D) a social group on Tuesday demanded to hold over Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) hearings until September.
The group questioned the motive of the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) in keeping public hearings under temporarily erected pandals during the peak monsoon period. They even wondered whether physical access would be possible in case of foul weather.
The public hearings are set to be held on July 8 at Panjim and Margao.
Speaking for the group, C4D leader Sidharth Karapurkar refers to the circular issued by Government of Goa saying all government departments should avoid physical meetings. He even cites the predicted third wave of COVID-19 that would apparently hit Maharashtra within two weeks followed by Goa and claims CZMA should desist from rushing through the public hearings which will be rendered meaningless under threat of these two factors.
C4D leader Elvis Gomes said that public skepticism of the process of the hearing was rising.
He said aided by the government, the CZMP’s would be rushed through for approvals by bulldozing public sentiment.
“This is part of a larger scheme. With Port Authorities Act coming into force, CZMPs were set to become symbols of corporate greed at the expense of the cultural attachment of the Goans to their land and rivers”, said Gomes.
