Saxttikars have stuck to their guns that scheduled public hearings should be deferred in wake of the Covid-19 infection. People speculate that the suggestions and objections submitted are not even considered in the final CZMP. Hence, they feel that public hearing is just an eyewash to fool the people and also the court. People from the northern coastal belt say they would prefer panchayat or taluka level hearing which, they say, will be more convenient and give them more time.
Speaking to Herald several concerned citizens and heads of the panchayats from Salcete, Bardez, Pernem, Tiswadi, Quepem and Mormugao, say the government is following the wrong procedure and no concern for Goans is reflected. Saxttikars feel that there is a delay in preparing and implementing the CZM plan. Goa will be destroyed completely if discrepancies are not rectified on time. People are of the opinion that there should not be a time limit to speak out the grievances, because it is a public hearing.
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There are also allegations that the government wants to push for the plan according to their wishes by taking shelter under the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All village panchayats (Mandrem, Arambol, Morjim from Siolim, Calangute, Candolim, etc), and villagers had raised strong objection to the draft CZMP by holding panchayat level awareness meetings and other group meetings, where they had called representatives of social forums and environmentalists to understand the draft since it had many technical errors which were beyond understanding of common person”, the villagers said.
Other affecting villages in Pernem are Tuem, Agarwada-Chopdem, Camurlim, Thivim, Reis Magos, Salvador de Mundo, Nerul, Pomburpa and Aldona.
Judith Almeida, social activist from Colva, said that there are no corrections done to the CZMP plan, as pointed out by the people during the last public hearing. “During the interim period, we had expected the government will rectify the mistakes. We thought that government would be more sensitive, however, instead of going forward and following suggestions made by some organizations no changes have been made.”
Judith further said that there is no proper demarcation of the areas. “The whole process and the plan do not reflect the holistic direction. The issue pertaining to global warming should have been taken into consideration at the time of planning. There is no application of mind in preparing the plan and not even holding the public hearing has been applied”, said Judith.
She alleged that the government has no intention of having a sound management plan for Goa’s future.
TWO VENUES NOT PRACTICAL
The villagers of the northern coastal belt said that due to the COVID situation it was not practical to get the entire population of North Goa at one venue and South Goa at another as proposed, as the villagers will be unnecessarily exposed to health risks.
“All village panchayats (Mandrem, Arambol, Morjim from Siolim, Calangute, Candolim, etc), and villagers had raised strong objections to the draft CZMP by holding panchayat level awareness meetings and other group meetings, where they had called representatives of social forums and environmentalists to explain the draft since it had many technical errors which were beyond understanding of common person”, the villagers said.
Other affecting villages in Pernem are Tuem, Agarwada-Chopdem, Camurlim, Thivim, Reis Magos, Salvador de Mundo, Nerul, Pomburpa and Aldona.
Villagers from Mandrem, Morjim and Arambol, who always showed active involvement in giving suggestions and objections on draft CZMP, claimed that the plan is apparently prepared with reference to the 1971 survey when these villages had few houses. Besides many important things including fishing areas, sand dunes and other sensitive spots are missing from the draft.
HEARING AT PANCHAYAT/TALUKA LEVEL
“I am of the strong view, that the scheduled hearing should be postponed and held at village, taluka and district level to avoid crowding and to ensure that every affected individual gets opportunity to put across his/her grievance. It is a fact that on ground several things are missing right from houses, fishing village, mangroves, etc. Everything needs to be included. The plan needs to be finalised with proper inclusion and in transparent manner,” said architect Tallulah D’Silva.
Capt.Viriato Fernandes, State convenor of Goencho Avaaz, from Chicalim said, “The public hearing which was held on March 7, which we objected but government pushed through, was illegal. But finally the National Green Tribunal ruled in our favour which means we were right. Based on that, the NGT accepted all the flaws which were present in that plan and had called for more public hearing.”
“When we are having public hearing, there needs to be active participation of the public mainly the stakeholders who are farmers, clam/oyster pickers, toddy tappers, fishermen, etc, living on the coastline. Now the government has implemented statewide curfew after witnessing rise in the Covid-19 cases and deaths recently,” Cap Viriato added.
“We have already made representation to the Environment Minister, CZMA, and other authorities, raising our concern towards the plan, which is full of errors and if implemented will be draconian. Every individual in each of the village has some or other issue…their houses are missing….property is marked wrongly…rivers or creeks not shown…it is important that these grievances are heard at panchayat level,” said Cecille Rodrigues, activist. “Panchayats can record in writing as well as audio the grievances of the citizens and submit it to the government for necessary action,” Cecille, activist from Taleigao added.
PANDEMIC FEARS
“Holding public hearing on CZMP at this stage of pandemic means violation of their own order of public gathering and intentionally putting lives of common people at risk knowing the present situation. There are many irregularities in CZMP which need to be addressed and heard peacefully. Holding the hearing at open place is not a right choice. In my opinion the hearing needs to be postponed to next date with proper arrangements”, said president of Calangute Constituency Forum Premanand Diukar.
“In the current pandemic, when we are just recovering from the second wave, which was terrible, it won’t be advisable to go for a public hearing with such large gathering of people. We cannot risk lives of the people. We have waited for ten long years; can we not wait for few more months. I know the NGT deadline is there but we need to highlight these issues before the NGT,” social activist Cecille said.
“There are several other errors which need to be rectified. But for now, the hearing needs to be postponed considering that due to section 144 and curfew, NGOs or fishing communities were not able to interact and put across their grievances. Hearings cannot be held in such hasty manner….people need to be given proper opportunity to put across their worries,” said Arturo D’Souza, an activist.
“For a public hearing there has to be awareness programme or gram sabha which has to be done by CZMA village wise. Only then the people will understand and would be able to suggest which will reflect in CZMP, said Savio Correia, Expert Member GCZMA.
“Now considering the new Delta variant of virus has surfaced I feel the public hearing need to be postpones further for people’s safety. How government is going to maintain social distance, etc when there will be thousands of people attending this hearing” Correia added.
Cyril A.Fernandes, Human Rights activist from Chicalim, opined that the CZMP hearing must be postponed considering the restrictions put up by the government due to pandemic. “Hearing should happen in the manner it had happened during coal issue. CZMP should be the voice of the people. The hearings have been announced at the paces which lacks the facilities for such a large number of people. Conducting public hearing in such an environment will be violation of human rights of those people attending hearing during pandemic” he added.
Benaulim ZP member Hanzel Fernandes said that the public hearing for the CZMP will not be fruitful because people have just come out of the second wave of Covid-19 and which is not totally over.
“We don’t understand why the government is going ahead with the public hearing when a medical expert has already given the predictions of the third wave of Covid-19. Keeping in mind the monsoon it will not be easy to speak out at the public hearing”, Hanzel stated.
Tania Devaiah, an environmental researcher from Sancoale commented: “The finalisation of CZMP is a critical process, for every coastal village in Goa. It will determine our future in terms of resource use, climate resilience and livelihood security for different communities. It is not something that should be rushed or done without an inclusive approach. Pushing these public hearings with a time limit for speakers, etc, in the midst of a pandemic with full knowledge of the very serious concerns of Goans about the same is very problematic.”
HEARING ‘A FARCE’
“This public hearing will not have any impact, a plan is itself preceded in wrong intentions and not for the public. What is going on is just for the namesake and nothing will come out from the public hearing”, said another social activist from Cavelosim Irish Passanha.
He said that the government can always file an application before the NGT and ask for the time, in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The whole intention of the government is to give free hand to all the violators”, he alleged.
Irish questioned that how can the government fix a time of 15 minutes when asking for a public hearing?
Anthony Fernandes a fisherman from Assolna said the whole process of public hearing for CZMP is a farce. “Why the suggestions of ours, related to the fishing community has not been mentioned in the plan, despite giving in written so what is the meaning of this public hearing, when the authorities itself does not want to hear the public”, he stated.
According to Assolna’s Anthony, CZMP should be discussed at the village level. “Because this plan is not just going to affect the individuals but it will have a strong impact on the entire community. Besides, it will affect the environment. Plus people living in the coastal areas are going to suffer.
“The plan should be done in such a way that people’s concerns be kept in mind. It looks like the government is ignoring the grievances of the people”, Anthony added.
“The elections are approaching and it seems like the government wants to complete this public hearing quickly and implement the CZMP and grant permissions to the crony capitalists and to increase the budget since the election are at the corner,” said Olencio Simoes, Goenchea Raponnkarancho Ekvott and Goencho Ekvott social group member.
Simoes added, “The public hearings need to be postponed considering the Covid-19 pandemic and recent rise in the cases. Govt introduced Curfew to bring down the Covid cases. The curfew was implemented till July 5 and if it extended ahead then it is clear that as per the guidelines there cannot be a public hearing and if the hearing takes place during the curfew then it will clearly show that the curfew extension, NSA etc, is being implemented to bulldoze the people’s opinions.”
Colva panchayat too has the same opinion that the government should not make haste in passing the plan.
“We as a panchayat body have already submitted our suggestions and objections to the government and panchayat will see to it that all are considered in the plan”, said Johnson Coelho, Sarpanch Colva panchayat.
Affirming that he will take part in the hearing, Coelho said that people from Colva want a plan prepared by people and not by some organisation, because in the end, people will get affected.
Besides, Cavelosim panchayat is also of the same opinion that they want people’s plan and all the suggestions made by the villagers should be considered and the government is not in the right direction.
“We will represent our panchayat at the public hearing, however, we will not allow the authorities to pass the plan by keeping aside suggestions and objections made by the panchayat or by the people of Cavelossim”, said Desmond Dias, newly elected Sarpanch of Cavelosim panchayat.
“CZMP will be going to affect our future generation and more especially the fishing community of Benaulim, which is a large number. Hence, our only aim is to protect the people and the process of CZMP should be followed properly”, said Benaulim Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh Prabhudesai.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao also said that he is not in the favour of the present Coastal Zonal Management Plan. “I have already written a letter to the government expressing my concern. Issues with regard to the seashore and fishing community need to be addressed in the plan”, he stated.
Speaking to Herald Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said that he wants the government to go ahead with the plan in a proper manner. “The people’s concerns should be given top priority. The government needs to take people into confidence before finalizing anything”, he stated.
‘DELAY WILL BE DETRIMENTAL’
Savio Correia, Expert Member Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) said in his comment that The CZMP public hearing on July 8, 2021 has been convened on directions of Hon’ble NGT. The Court laid down a clear timeline for completion of the process that GCZMA has to abide by. “On merits, I personally feel that further delaying the finalisation of Goa CZMP would be detrimental to the coastal communities and Goans at large. Issues like protection of eco-sensitive areas, regularisation of fisher community houses, benefits available to designated fishing villages, development proposals etc. are on hold. The delay would certainly have its social, ecological and economic cost. It will only benefit those trying to exploit the vacuum. We are already eight years behind schedule.”
As far as major collision points like depiction of port limits and structures are concerned, GCZMA has already taken a call to delete them. Other issues like alleged errors in HTL, khazans, mangroves, sand dunes etc. raised during public consultation can be looked into by GCZMA at time of appraisal,” Correia added.
Cyril A.Fernandes, Human Rights activist from Chicalim, said that, “In every panchayat it has got its people’s biodiversity register (PBR) which comes under Biodiversity Management Committee. This PBR contains the heritage and important sites, sensitive areas from the village. During gram sabha these PBR is validated. This PBR need to be reflected exactly in various plans such as Outline development Plan, CZMP plan and Regional Plan. PBR need to be incorporated in all three plans. Chicalim and many other villages have observed that PBR has not reflected correctly in the CZMP and there are major discrepancies which need to be rectified.
HERITAGE/IMPORTANT SITES MISSING
“There are several heritage structures that are missing from the plan. The draft CZMP is nothing but an attempt to privatise the entire coastal belt. The Heritage Action Group has been demanding that the entire shoreline be declared as No Development zone. It is a public natural heritage, which the government, through CZMP, wants to privatise in the name of development,” said Prajal Sakhardande, heritage activist.
“The two biggest issues concerning the Tiswadi taluka is that the St Inez Creek is not shown in the draft plan and hence it stands excluded from the CRZP regulations,” said architect Tallulah.
“The port limit is another concern affecting the fishermen community directly. The port limit is extended till Raj Bhavan area and also Chorao island. The Port bill passed by the Parliament clearly says that the State or local bodies will have no say in the areas coming under the Port limit. This is dangerous, especially for fishermen community, who are dependent on fishing for their livelihood,” Tallulah added.
“The Village Panchayat has sent its objections against the plan to the GCZMA. The coastal plan, which had been made by the panchayat incorporating several suggestions of the villagers, has not been reflected in the draft CZMP. Several shacks and other notifications suggested by the panchayat were not incorporated in the plan”, said Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes.
“There are several water bodies that are missing from the plan while those shown are not identical; An attempt to indirectly exempt them from CRZ regulations. At many places, where mangroves are grown in fields due to salinity those entire fields are marked as mangrove sensitive areas, thereby prohibiting the farmers from cultivating their own fields. Also, there are several fishing shelters missing from the plan,” added Arturo D’Souza, activist.
(Contributions by SHWETA KAMAT, MARCOS GONSALVES, DHIRAJ HARMALKAR and ASMITA POLJI)
