Panjim: The activists, who were up in arms against the proposed Marina, under the banner of ‘Goenkar Against Marina’, have slammed the government’s “desperate” attempt to clear the project. They allege the government is violating its own Section 144 of CrPC, which has been in force in wake of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Under Section 144 that’s been in force from mid-March, gathering of four and more people is banned.
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The activists have decided to once again corner the govt for going ahead with Marina, which once developed, they say will have a devastating impact on the environment.
They say that the reasons on which the project was opposed last year, continued to be valid today; which includes the finalization of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and alleged flaws in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
Member of the group,, Ramrao Wagh said the EIA report, on which the public hearing has been planned, itself is a fraud document as it has failed to point out the ecology of the area. “The EIA is a fraud document. No purpose will be served in the holding public meeting on a fraud document,” he said.
Wagh added that the govt is holding a fresh public hearing on the same EIA document, which they have strongly opposed. “We are not against development but the project is devastating for the environment,” he said.
Wagh, who is the brother of former St Andre MLA (late) Vishnu Wagh, said the project should be cancelled. “It is very surprising to see the govt holding a public hearing during the COVID pandemic. On one side, when the govt is putting a ban on large gathering, how can a public hearing take place? The govt is ‘misusing’ lockdown to clear the Marina project,” Wagh charged.
Activist Rama Kankonkar said that the move shows the govt’s desperate attempt to clear the project by violating its own Section 144. “The govt is ready to violate its Sec 144 to clear the project. Or, they want no people to come out for the hearing due to Sec 144. Also, the govt is aware that people will avoid participating in a large gathering like this because of the COVID scare,” he said.
Kankonkar added that the group’s core-team, will soon be meeting to decide their future course of action and how to ensure that the hearing does not take place.
