Team Herald
VASCO: The Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and National Fishworkers Federation (NFF) have slammed Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national spokesperson and Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi for stating that CRZ 2019 notification would have no impact on Goa and fishing communities.
NFF) Vice Chairperson Olencio Simoes said that Lekhi’s statement clearly shows who is misleading and misguiding the people of Goa. “She acted out of ignorance and her government is a cooperate agent,” he said.
NFF alleged that the government wants to only favour its Guajarati friend Gautam Adani who has taken over 12 major ports of India which includes Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) too.
Simoes regretted that the Central government has passed the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2019 despite the fishermen organising an interaction with parliamentarians’ and highlighting the objections and ill effects that the draft CRZ Notification 2018 would have on the coastal communities.
Olencio said that Lekhi should think twice before she talks as she is not acquainted with Goa’s geophysics and geomorphological features which, he said, needs to be protected at any cost.
“Lekhi should tell the people of Goa why Goa special consideration in the CRZ 2011 are deleted in CRZ 2019 notifications? Is it because she wants to make Goa like Delhi?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) President Agnelo Rodrigues has said that Lekhi should answer to the people of Goa that her own government (Water Resources Department & National Institute of Oceanography) has said that Around 25 km out of 105 km is severely damaged by erosion and in what way would the new CRZ notification 2019 help the people of Goa.
“On contrary, the new CRZ 2019 will displace coastal communities like fishermen, toddy tappers, farmers, tourism related activities, shack owners etc as the new CRZ 2019 will only benefit Adani, Jindal and Vedanta as under the Sagarmala plans, the MPT and the central government will concertize the entire 105 km of Coastline of Goa,” he said.
