PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant took a pot shot at NGOs protesting government projects in the State. Speaking during Question Hour on Wednesday, he referred to the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), which has attracted the ire of the locals as well as activists, prompting the government to hold public consultations.
“Other States have already sent CZMP but Goa is left. It is a very important (plan). Government is ready… problems come when NGOs bring objection. In a small State of Goa, there are approximately 3,000 NGOs and another approximately 2,000 unregistered NGOs. They are there to obstruct government works. We want to bring development but these are the obstacles,” the CM said during a discussion on NOCs issued by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for works under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
The government has been holding public consultations on the CZMP ahead of its meeting on the draft plan before the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
Then CM late Manohar Parrikar had also openly criticised the NGOs and activists for stalling developmental works in the State. As the then Defence Minister, his remark that NGOs backed by vested interests were filing cases in the court to delay creation of infrastructure in the State, had drawn ire from the activists as well as the Congress.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar informed the House that 15 works including building of toilets along the beaches under the Central scheme have been pending due to non-availability of NOC from GCZMA. Another five projects have been rejected.
To the starred question tabled by BJP MLA Wilfred D’Sa, the minister in his written reply stated that under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme-I, the government has utilised Rs 6,789.27 lakh as on June 15, 2019, which has been paid to the concerned agency, whereas under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme-II Rs 1,987.08 lakhs have been utilised till June 15, 2019.
The MLAs demanded that basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms be set up across all major beaches to which the Chief Minister assured to get the work done at the earliest. To another request by Congress MLA Pratapsing Rane for changing rooms along the riverside, the CM said he would “think over it”.
