Goa Foundation has objected to the conduct of the public hearing on the draft CZMP in the open air during the monsoon and so also to the time limit of 15 minutes to be accorded to each speaker. Goa Foundation was the petitioner in the NGT.
In a statement, GF director Claude Alvares alleged that the government by opting for an open air hearing during the rainy season wants to ensure minimal participation in the public hearings. “This is to be deplored,” he said.
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Goa Foundation also objected to the limit of 15 minutes imposed on every speaker and to other political conditions relating to what can be said or not said during the presentations. “No conditions should be imposed on speakers. No conditions can be imposed,” Alvares said.
He pointed out that NGT had asked the Goa government to follow the norms laid down by the High Court in the Navelim/Amone public hearings.
“No time limit was laid down there. The business of the GCZMA is to listen to the people, take what is useful and discard the rest, while respecting the rights of the people to disclose what they are most concerned about,” Alvares stated.
He warned to challenge the time limit restrictions imposed if they are not dropped as they have no basis in law or any norm in force governing public hearings.
