VASCO: Goencho Avaaz Party on Thursday strongly demanded to postpone public hearing on Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) on July 8 amidst COVID-19 pandemic viewing the risk of holding public hearing amid looming danger of the new variant of COVID-19. The party in their press statement has strongly objected to the government’s decision especially in view of the fact that the government has extended the curfew till July 5.
Swapnesh Sherlekar, president of Goencho Avaaz Party said, “The extension of the curfew to July 5 is an admission by the government that the danger of the pandemic still looms large over Goa. And the fact that a highly infectious Delta variant cocktail has emerged, according to the national media, gives credence to the fear that we still have months to go before we are clear of this virus.”
He further said on one hand, the government has clamped down a curfew. “How does it justify holding a potential super spreader of a Public Hearing almost immediately after the curfew is lifted?’’ he asked
Captain Viriato Fernandes, State convener of the party said, ‘’If the government feels that this is not the case, then one can only conclude that the extension of the curfew and simultaneous clamping of the NSA directly is a ruse by the government to create serious road blocks and obstacles to the people’s participation in the CZMA Public Hearing.’’
