At a meeting chaired by Sarpanch Tereza Fernandes, the gram sabha told the Panchayat body to immediately send a letter to the TCP and other government authorities on the resolution adopted by the special gram sabha rejecting Sec 39A, NDZ and NDA.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, who attended the meeting, explained the gram sabha members how the government has proposed to change zone of two separate parcel of properties at Colva and Sernabatim, admeasuring over 13-lakh square metres, into NDZ and NDA under 39A.
Making a fervent plea to the people of Colva to remain alert and foil any attempts to change the zones of NDZ properties into NDA, the Benaulim MLA questioned the motives behind the government moves when sand dunes and paddy fields are protected under the CRZ regulation and other laws in force.
“We are concerned that sand dunes and paddy fields already protected by the existing laws may be opened up for conversion through NDZ and NDA under 39A. We have to remain alert and foil such attempts”, he said.
Environmental activist Judith Almeida questioned the rationale behind the TCP’s decision to change the zones of NDZ and sand dunes when they come under the domain of the CRZ notification and norms.
She further demanded to know whether the TCP has consulted and obtained the NOC from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) before proposing change in zone of CRZ areas. “Apart from GCZMA, have the TCP obtained the concurrence of other government departments such as agriculture before proposing to change the zones from agriculture and paddy fields to NDZ and NDA”, she questioned.
Sarpanch Tereza later told the media that the Colva village panchayat had already adopting a resolution demanding scrapping of section 39A and the proposed zone changes to NDZ and NDA.
