CANACONA: In view of the upcoming public hearing on July 7 at Margao to give suggestions and raise objections over the draft of Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and associated maps, a team from NGO Rainbow Warriors has visited various panchayats in Canacona to create awareness on the shortcomings of the plan and the perils of it once implemented in toto as it exists now.
Rainbow Warriors member Abhijeet Prabhudesai interacted with the elected representatives and villagers of Loliem-Polem, Pouinginim, Shristal panchayats on Monday and apprised them of the contents of the CZMP draft and also the public hearing to be held at Margao.
Meanwhile, Nagarcem-Palolem Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) and Canacona based NGO ‘Goenkar’ is also arranging one of this type of session on coming Friday at 10 am at Agonda panchayat hall for the locals residing in the jurisdiction of Canacona Municipality and Agonda.
Vikas Bhagat, general secretary of Goenkar said that there are many flaws in the original draft and “we will file our objections in writing.”
“The CZMP is very important for the future of our villages. We have not been consulted on this matter and our inputs are required to ensure this exercise is done correctly. It must include fishing villages, fishing grounds, eco-sensitive areas, khazans, heritage sites and hazard line. These are currently missing in the Nagercem Palolem, Agonda and other villages in village maps depicted in the draft CZPM,” said John Coutinho a prominent member of Goenkar.
