PANJIM: The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) along with its affiliated union Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and 10 fishermen associations submitted a memorandum to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and both the district collectors, demanding that the public hearings for finalization of the draft Coastal Zone management Plan (CZMP) on July 8 be postponed.
NFF and GRE General Secretary of Olencio Simoes criticized GCZMA for trying to silence their voices once again, by imposing time limit of mere 15 minutes, which he said violates the prevailing legal norms for public hearings that State that every person at the venue shall be granted the opportunity to seek information or clarification.
GRE, which had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding lapses at the earlier Public Hearing, accused the government of not following the directions issued by NGT and the High Court.
Given that there are only 16 days between June 21 and July 8, Olencio claimed it is unfair and unjust that people have such limited time to freely move out and prepare for the hearings.
Citing several irregularities, GRE mentioned that the Fishery Planning committee formed by the Environment Department for preparing the draft comprehensive plan for the fishing community living in CRZ areas had not yet completed the process of identifying fishermen houses as per the gazetted order.
Simoes added that such gross errors reflect that the process for preparing the CZMP has not followed the CRZ notification 2011 guidelines.
Amongst other concerns raised, was the difficulties senior citizens of the fishing community, who comprise 60% of its population, will face in traveling to the venues of the public hearings in Margao and Panjim from their respective homes, some of which are located near the borders of Goa. He added that there are some stakeholders who need to be present in each district but cannot do so as the hearings in both the districts have been scheduled on the same day.
He also pointed out that the CZMP plans of several villages across the State have not yet been updated on GZCZMA’s websites. Similarly, fishing zones in the water bodies have not been marked.
