the goan I network
MARGAO
Betalbatim villagers on Sunday came in for a shock when they realized that the controversial Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has neither shown the fishing areas of the coastal village nor have shown the existing structures of the fishermen on the plan.
The villagers realized the bitter truth after social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai, who was roped in by the panchayat body to explain the CZMP, informed that not a single fishing area on the Betalbatim beach has been shown in the plan.
Abhijit explained to the villagers that though Betalbatim is a coastal village with many fishermen families, the CZMP plan does not show any area or ward as a fishing area. He pointed out that the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) was brought in to protect fishermen inhabiting the coastline, but lamented that the plan prepared by the Chennai-based agency has neither shown any fishing area in Betalbatim nor has shown the structures of the fishing community.
Abhijit warned the people that unless the fishing activities are reflected in the plan, the fishermen may not enjoy any more rights to carry out fishing activities on the Betalbatim beach in future.
He also exposed how the CZMP has not shown the low-lying fields and water bodies existing close to the coast. “The CZMP has only shown the structures that have been existing prior to 1971. This means all houses which do not reflect on the plan post-1971 may come under the axe in the future,” he said, adding all structures of the fishermen community that have been structures on the coast prior and post-1971 must be shown in the plan in order to protect the interests of the traditional community.
Earlier, Sarpanch Constancio Miranda explained that traditional fishing activities are still being carried out on the Betalbatim beach. “The CZMP has been prepared by the Chennai-based agency with the help of Google maps without taking the ground realities into account. Neither the village panchayat nor the citizens of the village were taken into confidence while drafting the plan,” he said, adding, “We do not know who has drafted the plan and for whom”.
