MARGAO
That the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) public hearing at the SGPDA grounds would turn stormy became clear from the word go, with the speakers and participants questioning the restrictions on time for speakers and purpose behind holding a non-stop hearing.
When Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and district authorities began the hearing with a power point presentation, citizens were on their feet raising objections and protests, demanding to know how the presentation can take place when hundreds of participants and speakers are outside the venue.
Claiming that 700 persons have registered for the hearing and another 1000 standing in line for spot registration, activists Ramiro Mascarenhas and Zarinha Da Cunha feared that the participants would be left out from the presentation if it is held in their absence.
South Goa Collector Ruchika Katyal tried to intervene and calm down frayed tempers and called them out of the pandal. Heated exchanges ensued between the citizens and the district Collector, questioning her why they were asked to come out of the pandal.
Activist Olencio Simoes initially demanded that the hearing be put on hold on the plea that the Supreme Court is hearing a revision petition. Others demanded to know how people from far flung areas of Canacona would return home as there was no public transport available late in the evening. He said around 100 people from Loliem could not make it to Margao for want of public transport.
In fact, speakers made their submissions under protest, raising point of order on the rationale behind the CZMP hearing during the prevalent pandemic and that also, without making arrangements for logistics.
Almost every speaker who took to the podium first raised a point of order saying the CZMP hearings have a provision for raising point of order and to speak after lodging their protest.
Activist Avinash Tavares pointed out that the failure to make transport and food arrangements for the participants and speakers amounts to violation of human rights.
The speakers and authorities also came face to face over the question of listing out the speakers. When the authorities announced the names of speakers one by one, there were no takers from the audience. The speakers questioned the authorities for changing the listing which they said ignored the registration of on-line speakers, forcing the official to rectify the same.
While the power point presentation made by the GCZMA which began at 10.40 am ended at 11.27 am, the actual hearing began only at around 12 noon.
Speakers challenged and questioned the 15 minute time restrictions imposed by the officials, leaving the latter with no option than to extend the time limit by some more minutes.
