Team Herald
PANJIM: In an unique protest, nearly a dozen of Goa Pradesh Youth Congress leaders buried themselves in the sand at Miramar beach, on Thursday, demanding immediate withdrawal of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2018, claiming it to be “detrimental”.
Youth leaders, led by their President Varad Mardolkar, buried themselves in the sand chanting anti-government slogans in a bid to mount pressure on the State BJP led government to call upon the Centre to withdraw the notification. The youth leaders have given ‘wake-up’ call to the people of Goa to fight for their rights and protection of livelihood.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar, leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, Ex-CM and MLA Digambar Kamat, MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, MLA Francis Silveira, former MP Francisco Sardinha, were present for the protest, which was backed by NGOs like Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE).
Congress legislative wing has decided to raise the issue during the upcoming Winter session of the State Legislative Assembly, beginning from July 29.
Speaking to media persons, Chodankar termed the CRZ notification as “government sponsored destruction of environment.”
“Globally, it is the duty of respective governments to protect the environment. But Indian government is working otherwise. They are working to destroy the environment,” he said.
The Congress leader said that the CRZ notification will spell doom to the tourism industry besides affecting the marine life and fishing community which is harvesting the Sea. He termed the notification as “regressive step” and “biggest jolt to the environment.”
Chodankar also alleged that by adopting the notification, the Union government is trying to help out the lobbies who are reprimanded by the National Green Tribunal.
On the occasion, Kavlekar said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar misguided the House and the people of Goa on the notification by stating that it will not be implemented in the State. “Chief Minister fooled the people. Goa government, in fact, gave its approval to the draft notification,” he alleged.
Kavlekar said that despite objections flooding in, State government went ahead and granted its consent.
Youth President Varad Mardolkar said people of Goa need to be united to fight this battle. “Irrespective of the political class, people need to come out in large numbers and strongly oppose the Central government’s move of destruction, which is detrimental not only for Goa but for the entire country,” he said.
“We strongly demand immediate withdrawal of the notification. The notification is likely to lead Goa to Kerala-like flooding situation in near future,” he added.
