MARGAO: Opposing strongly the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the Salcete Sarpanchas have condemned the agency that drafted the plan for violating the legal mandate of consulting the stakeholders before drafting the plan.
The condemnation was conveyed at a press briefing attended by the panchas and sarpanchas of Loutolim, Camurlim, Guirdolim, Macasana, Chandor, Rachol, Benaulim, Seraulim, Orlim, Carmona, Cavelossim, Sarzora, Velim, Ambelim, Assolna, Colva, Varca, Chinchinim-Deussua, Majorda-Utorda-Calata, Curtorim, Navelim, Telaulim and Aquem-Baixo.
They said that they strongly condemn the agency for violating the legal mandate of holding consultation with the stakeholders and for denying the rights of the people to participate in the preparation of the CZMPs for Goa.
“We jointly demand that the CZMPs be prepared at the village level by the consultants/experts in consultation with the panchayats and local communities, with the assistance of the officials of Government departments concerned,” they said.
Sarzora Sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas opposed the plan and criticised the manner in which it was prepared.
Loutolim Panch Xavier Fernandes said, “Some days back our Environment Minister said that they have scrapped the plan, but he continues to give presentations. I feel that he is completing procedure and we are worried that the plan would be forcibly implemented in all the panchayats. Things which are not needed are shown and needless changes have been added.”
Fernandes demanded that the plan has to be scrapped and a new one should be prepared in consultation with tenants associations, fishermen and villagers.
“We will support the government if the plan is prepared in this manner. The people opposing the plan spontaneously and it is not true that NGOs are instigating them. If the plan is going to be scrapped, why does it need presentations?” Fernandes asked.
Aquem Baixo Sarpanch Siddhesh Bhagat said, “There is a need to put that scrapping statement on the official gazette. Every plan as per Swarajya has to be prepared in consultation with the people.”
Velim Sarpanch Savio Dsilva said, “Certain things which have gone wrong in the plan need to be rectified.”
Colva Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes said that there are tide line discrepancies sand the dunes are misplaced.
Betalbatim Sarpanch Constancio Miranda said that the people and panchayats have to be taken into confidence. “Sand dunes, traditional accesses, creeks, lakes are not shown on the CZMP” he complained.
“The functions and duties assigned to us by the Goa Panchayat Raj Act require us to ensure that the CZMPs are prepared properly. The rights of the people, socio-economic data and environmental features must be demarcated on the maps, for which consultation with local communities, ground verification and mapping need to be carried out,” he said.
The group claimed that preliminary studies show that the draft CZMPs are deeply flawed and therefore threaten fishing, agriculture, housing, indigenous communities and common man.
“If the government does not pay heed to our demands and tries to forcibly conduct the presentation at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on July 27 at 3 pm, we will call upon the people of Salcete and Goa to come to the venue in large numbers to condemn this attempt to destroy the very essence of our democratic nation,” the group said.
