Team Herald
MARGAO: Welcoming the cancellation of the public hearing on Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP), the Federation of Rainbow Warriors on Wednesday demanded that instead of sending them back to National Centre for Sustainable Costal Management the same be prepared either by the NIO or Goa University.
Briefing media persons, General Secretary Abhijit Prabhudessai pointed out that NCSCM does not understand Goa which was reflected in the fact that none of the fishing villages or fish breeding areas were shown on the maps and critical items like sand dunes, creeks and gayer were also not shown.
He also pointed out that the high tide line has been marked haphazardly and khazans and age old houses of people have been brought within the ambit of CRZ. Pointing out that River Zuari has been named as ‘Mandavi, Abhijit also pointed out that houses constructed after 1991 were not shown.
In view of these failings, he said the NCSCM has proved to be unreliable and in view of the fact that most villages have rejected the plans he said the plans be now prepared either by Goa University or the NIO.
Replying to a question, he said he welcomed the MLAs’ decision to cancel the public hearing which was one of the demands of all villages. However, he said, the MLAs have not demanded that the local bodies be consulted while preparing the CZMP.
He said that they would call on the MLAs to impress upon them to take the local people into confidence while preparing the CZMP.
