PANAJI
Speakers at the public hearing on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) in Campal were critical of the entire process of the hearing and demanded that all submissions be properly included in the draft plan.
Former scientist and ex-member of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Antonio Mascarenhas said he had already presented his written objections and suggestions to the GCZMA much in advance.
“Although I had registered online, the sequence of speakers was changed, apparently due to some mismanagement at the hearing venue. As such, I was not present personally when my name was called.”
“The major topic that I pointed out is that mapping of sand dunes by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) is simply not acceptable. They have missed many areas as they have not shown many sand dune fields on maps.”
“Almost 50 percent of sand dune areas are either not mapped or simply omitted in their maps. This is scientifically improper,” said Mascarenhas.
Activist and Goencho Avaaz member Roshan Mathais claimed that the entire public hearing at Campal was a farce and merely a formality expected by law and not in public interest. He demanded that all submissions be properly included in the draft plan.
“The GCZMA did not have the basic maps to show the public when requested by the speakers. The roof which was put up was leaking, forcing public to open their umbrellas under the so-called covered area.”
“There we no dignitaries at the dais to address the speakers. No introduction of any officials were made at any point of the meeting. If the NCSCM scientist came, no one would have known as they were not seen nor introduced nor did they speak a word at the hearing.”
Another activist Albertina Almeida said the State government had failed to hold the consultations in public friendly manner.
She claimed there were various disabling factors that had reduced the consultation to a farce such as lack of accessibility due to transport and inaccessible basic food supplies despite the long hours of the hearing.
As regards the draft CZMP, she drew attention that there was no comparative data to note, for example the depletion of fish resources for traditional fishers and the source of the same, so that in planning coastal zone management, the issue could be redressed.
