PORVORIM
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has said the State government should scrap the entire draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and draft a plan afresh amid the protests across the State.
He also claimed there were several shortfalls in the draft CZMP of Penha de Franca village.
“The CZMP has been drafted badly and it requires massive changes as demanded by the people. The government should redraft a new CZMP plan after considering the suggestions of all stakeholders,” Khaunte told reporters on Thursday.
Khaunte questioned the State government's interest to continue its exercise to prepare the draft CZMP and Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral's claims of “politically motivated protests” by a section of people in the State.
“It is strange that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while reacting to protests outside the venues of the public hearing for the CZMP, said all opportunities were given to people to raise their objections and suggestions on the right platforms, but people preferred to speak outside the venue.”
“This is not true. Most people who protested outside the venues were in fact people affected by the draft CZMP and had gathered, leaving aside all their important work to voice their grievances.”
“Since they were denied entry into the venues they were forced to protest from outside the venues,” said Khaunte.
Commenting on the draft CZMP for Penha de Franca panchayat, Khaunte said there were several shortfalls in the plan.
“Areas like bundhs and sluice gates were not shown properly in the draft CZMP. The fishing community lives in Penha de Franca and their interests have not been safeguarded.”
“None of the suggestions by villagers were incorporated in the new draft CZMP," he added.
