MARGAO: Goa Against CRZ 2018 on Sunday held its seventh public meeting in Betalbatim that was attended by many villagers where the speakers explained why they were objecting to the amendment proposed to the CRZ in the current form.
Kennedy Afonso of the Rainbow Warriors explained that CRZ was initially implemented to protect the coastline and secondly to help the coastal villages and the fishing community living therein and hence no development was permitted within 200 mts of the high Tide Line.
He said it was unfortunate that the Goa government has till date not prepared the district coastal management maps of Goa and alleged that the Goa government has given its assent to the CRZ amendment only to get away from the National Green Tribunal that has directed the government to prepare the coastal plan by August 31, 2018.
General Secretary of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Olencio Simoes explained how the CRZ came into being and said a disaster that afflicted Kerala would follow in Goa as in Kerala the CRZ was totally violated.
He said the amendment is proposed only to help the Sagarmala project of the BJP that will ultimately help the industrialists and big money holders who have already bought beachside lands that they are now seeking to develop at the cost of the people.
Dismissing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s claim that the amendment would not be applicable to Goa as it does not have that much population, he asked whether a per square metre density study has been undertaken in Goa.
Betalbatim Sarpanch Constancio Miranda cautioned people that access to the beach will be denied to them if the big players develop hotels within 50 metres of the beach and reminded how in the neighbouring village a hotel had erected a gate to block the traditional access to the villagers.
